Mr Asare autographs a copy of his book
The President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Tinkaro Osei Asare has authored a book that provides insight into how student leaders should steer the affairs of the union, in order to make the union a force to reckon with on national issues.
The 233 paged book titled, “the Force of Will; Restoring the Lost Glory of NUGS”, consisted of seven chapters that delved into issues of activism, reformation agenda of NUGS, personal experience of the author as a student leader, among other issues.
Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, September 2019, Mr Asare said that NUGS as an entity which had been in existence for the past 52 years had come of age to make the necessary reforms in its constitutions, in order to help the union move forward.
The current lapses in the constitution he said had created an avenue for political parties to exploit; thereby creating divisions among students.
“Our major challenge over the years has been our constitution and that is why there have been several factions” he said.
At its 52nd Annual Residential Delegates congress held in November 2018, the union had to abruptly end its meeting held at Methodist University College Ghana due to electoral hitches which hampered its elections.
A statement released afterwards said “it was prudent for the leadership to liaise with the steering committee to officially call off congress and to agree that a new date be scheduled for congress”.
It also warned against interference of political parties as NUGS had no political bloc neither was it a bloc under a political party: in accordance with article four of its constitution which stated that political parties should not be formed within the ranks of NUGS.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas), Dr. Ben Asante who chaired the event, beseeched on all student leaders to stay united and remain objective in taking decisions that affected the welfare of students.
“Politics is good but blind partisanship is injurious – so I urge you to make sure that even in service and devotion to country, you think through your actions, devoid of all blind partisanship” he said.
Dignitaries present at the launch included the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Ghana, Stephen Amoah.
Others present were the National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Henry Nana Boakye, Managing Director of State Housing Company, Kwabena Appiah and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso West Wuagon, Lydia Alhassan, among others.
By Issah Mohammed