Deputy Minister advises students to avoid partisan politics
Mr Eric Opoku, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has advised students, especially those in tertiary institutions to avoid indulging in active partisan politics and maintain unity amongst them.
He said their involvement in active partisan politics could be dangerous to their academic attainments, which formed the basis of any professional undertaking, saying that could also destroy their future as individuals.
The Deputy Regional Minister said tertiary students in particular must not allow themselves to be influenced by politicians who sometimes used the students to achieve their parochial interests.
Mr Opoku gave the advice in a speech read for him by Mr Fritz Mensah, an Assistant Director at the Brong-Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council, at the opening of the 34th Annual Residential Delegates Congress of the Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) in Sunyani on Thursday.
The four-day Congress is under the theme; “A Formidable Polytechnic Education, a must for Ghana’s Quest for Attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)”.
It is being attended by 150 delegates from the 10 polytechnics in the country, as well as 25 alumna members and eight National Executive Council (NEC) members.
Mr Opoku emphasized the need for the students to concentrate on their academic pursuits now since that would determine their individual abilities to withstand challenges in life.
He said after achieving their academic goals and secured jobs, whoever wished to enter active politics could then do so safely.
Mr Opoku reiterated Government’s commitment to support education in the country to accelerate its social and economic development.
Nana Boadu Akofa, Adontenhene of Sunyani Traditional Area, who represented Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, Paramount Chief of Sunyani, noted that despite the massive infrastructural development that Sunyani Polytechnic had undertaken, the institution was still faced with inadequate accommodation for students.
He gave the assurance that the Traditional Council would consider the possibility of assisting the polytechnic to secure enough land for the construction of more hostels for students.
Mr Ebenezer Boakye-Agyemang, National President of GNUPS, said polytechnic education was geared toward grooming and training personnel for the middle-level manpower needs of the country.
He said that made it imperative for the Government to channel adequate resources to promote polytechnic education, which faced many challenges that hampered the impact expected to be made on the socio-economic growth of the country.
Among the activities outlined for the congress is a seminar on leadership, meeting of commissions to brainstorm on political, economic, educational and social issues of the country and use the outcome of their discussions to prepare a communiqué.
The central committee of GNUPS would also meet as part of the congress, followed by an election of new executives as well as a dinner and awards night to climax the congress.
Source: GNA