The Pro Vice-Chancellor responsible for Academic and Student Affairs (ASA), Prof. Gordon A. Awandare, has inaugurated a nine-member University of Ghana Students Representative Council (UGSRC) Welfare Board to champion student welfare initiatives.
The committee will oversee the management of the newly established UGSRC Welfare Scheme, a comprehensive set of welfare initiatives designed to offer crucial support and assistance to students in various aspects of their academic journey and personal lives.
The inauguration ceremony, which took place at the Old Council Chamber of the University, saw the official swearing-in of the Board members and the Administrator of the UGSRC Welfare Scheme, after which the Board held its inaugural meeting.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (ASA), Prof. Gordon A. Awandare, administering the oath of office to members of the UGSRC Welfare Scheme Board
In his address, Prof. Awandare commended the 2022/23 SRC Executive Council and General Assembly, led by immediate past SRC President, Mr. Martin Gyasi Boakye and former SRC General Assembly Speaker, Mr. Ramzy Ahmad Fuseini, for conceptualising and implementing “an impactful student support initiative as the UGSRC Welfare Scheme.”
He pledged the support of University Management for the UGSRC Welfare Scheme and Board, and encouraged the Board to conscientiously discharge its duties and work in close collaboration with the SRC and University Management, to realise the vision and mission of the UGSRC Welfare Scheme. He also encouraged student leaders to continue to partner with University Management in promoting the forward movement of the University.
Prof. Gordon A. Awandare, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs
Dr. Charles Brenya Wiafe-Akenteng, Vice-Dean of Student Affairs, who gave the opening remarks at the ceremony, indicated that the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs led by Professor Rosina Kyerematen, Dean of Student Affairs, was pleased to support the initiative when it was first proposed by the SRC leadership.
He indicated that the UGSRC Welfare Scheme had undergone a rigorous development process, which saw inputs from Junior Common Rooms of the halls of residence, Departmental/School Student Associations, the SRC General Assembly, the Association of Students with Special Needs, the Distance Education Students Association, the Junior Common Rooms at the Korle Bu Campus, as well as various University units and offices, before securing the final approval of University Management and the Governing Council.
Dr. Charles Brenya Wiafe-Akenteng, Vice Dean of Student Affairs
Managing Director of Dekklatt Limited and Project Consultant for the UGSRC Welfare Scheme, Mr. Divine Edem Kwadzodeh, provided a brief overview of the objectives and scope of the UGSRC Welfare Scheme, which included supplemental funds to help needy students complete their fee payments.
He also mentioned the provision of laptops to needy students through the Vice-Chancellor’s One Student One Laptop Initiative, the provision of food assistance to needy students through the Dean
of Student Affairs’ Food Bank Project and a comprehensive life insurance cover for all undergraduate students as key targets of the scheme.
In his inaugural speech on behalf of the Board, the Chairperson of the UGSRC Welfare Scheme Board, Mr. Peter Kwasi Kodjie, who is also the Secretary-General of the All-Africa Students Union (AASU) and a Governing Council Member of the Magna Charta Observatory (MCO), expressed gratitude to the SRC and University Management for the opportunity to serve on the Board.
Mr. Peter Kwasi Kodjie, Chairperson, UGSRC Welfare Scheme Board
He pledged the commitment of the Board to ensure the success of the UGSRC Welfare Scheme and indicated that the Board is fully committed to supporting the University’s vision of becoming a world-class research-intensive university, by ensuring that students’ welfare is catered for, to give students the peace of mind to focus on their academic work.
In addition to the Chairperson, Mr. Peter Kwasi Kodjie, the other members of the Board are Mr. Emmanuel Kumadey, Esq. – Secretary; Dr. Charles Brenya Wiafe-Akenteng – Member/ Representative, Dean of Student Affairs; Mr. Karimu Gbene Suglo – Member/ Representative, Director of Finance; Ms. Selina Torrison Saaka – Member/ Head, Students Financial Aid Office; Ms. Priscilla Eyram Awumah – Member/ Administrator, UGSRC Welfare Scheme; Mr. Martin Gyasi Boakye – Member/ Former SRC President; Mr. Ramzy Ahmad Fuseini – Member/ Former SRC General Assembly Speaker; and Mr. Edward Tetteh Zanyoh – Member/ SRC Vice President.
Present at the ceremony in addition to Prof. Gordon A. Awandare, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Student Affairs) and the Board members were, Prof. Rosina I. Kyerematen, Dean of Student Affairs; Mr. Divine Edem Kwadzodeh, Project Consultant; Mr. Frank Tsikata, SRC President; Mr. Suleman Awudu, SRC Treasurer; Mr. Lincoln Ohene, a former SRC Vice-President; Mr. Graham Kwame Kyei Oduro, former SRC Programmes and Projects Committee head; Mr. Jimmy Mawuse Adangbe, former Jubilee Hall JCR President; and Mr. Wisdom Ndukwe, a former SRC Vice-President, who moderated the ceremony.
