Professor Gordon A. Awandare, Pro-Vice-Chancellor responsible for academic and student affairs (ASA) at the University of Ghana has inaugurated a nine-member University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council (UGSRC) Welfare Board to champion student welfare initiatives at the University and 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 on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 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), Professor Gordon A. Awandare administering the oath of office to members of the UGSRC Welfare Scheme Board
In his keynote address, Professor Awandare commended the 2022/23 SRC Executive Council and General Assembly, respectively led by former 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.
Professor Gordon A. Awandare,
Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic & Student Affairs
Dr. Charles Brenya Wiafe-Akenten,
Vice Dean of Student Affairs
Dr. Charles Brenya Wiafe-Akenten, 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 I. 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 various University units and offices, before securing final approval of University Management and Governing Council.
Mr. Divine Edem Kwadzodeh, Managing Director of Dekklatt Limited, Project Consultant for the UGSRC Welfare Scheme, provided a brief overview of the objectives and scope of the UGSRC Welfare Scheme, which include supplemental funds to help needy students complete their fee payments, provision of laptops to needy students through the Vice-Chancellor’s One Student – One Laptop Initiative, 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 that offers financial security and support to students and their families in case of unfortunate events such as the death or total permanent disability of a student’s fee-paying parent or guardian, or the death of the student.
Mr. Divine Edem Kwadzodeh, Managing Director, Dekklatt Limited, Project Consultant, UGSRC Welfare Scheme providing an overview of the scope of the Scheme
Mr. Peter Kwasi Kodjie, Chairperson, UGSRC Welfare Scheme Board
In his inaugural speech on behalf of the Board, the Chairperson of the UGSRC Welfare Scheme Board, Mr. Peter Kwasi Kodjie, who is the Secretary-General of the All-Africa Students Union (AASU), a Governing Council Member of the Magna Charta Observatory (MCO), and a Founding Trustee of the 100 Million Campaign, London, UK, expressed gratitude to the SRC and University Management for their appointment as Board members. He pledged the Board’s commitment 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 so as to give students the peace of mind to focus on their academic work.