Frank Tsikata and Edward Zanyoh’s ascension to the leadership of the University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council (UGSRC) marked a historic moment. With a commanding 61.9% of the vote, translating to 10,021 out of 16,185 total votes, their mandate reflected a significant level of trust from the student body. However, the realities of their administration, as seen through their actions during the 2023/2024 academic year, reveal a complex narrative of unmet promises and limited successes.
Expectations vs. Reality
From the outset, the Tsikata-Zanyoh administration appeared poised to prioritize the interests and needs of the students. They campaigned on a platform of about 35 ambitious policies categorized into six key areas: satellite campuses, welfare, health and exit policies, social and security, academics, and special needs students. The election results indicated that students were hopeful for meaningful change.
Yet, the administration’s handling of key issues, such as the increase in medical examination fees and the addition of a GHS100 “Online Teaching Support” fee without prior notice, raised concerns. The SRC’s negotiation for a mere one-month extension on the payment deadline for the GHS500 medical fees and GHS200 penalty fees without a reduction, despite significant student backlash, exemplified the limited impact the administration had in addressing student grievances.
Implementation of Promised Policies
On the academic front, the Tsikata-Zanyoh administration made some progress. They implemented the 360 supplementary resit support and student academic support services, as well as facilitated loans for students in need. However, major promises like the reintroduction of the 50%-30%-20% fee payment policy and the revitalization of the Online Library System remained unfulfilled. This was a significant letdown for students who had placed their faith in the administration’s commitment to improving their academic experience.
Social Security and Student Welfare
The administration’s pledges to improve campus security, such as installing streetlights collaborating with JCRs for joint security initiatives, and setting up security posts also fell short. Despite promises to enhance the safety of students, areas like the UPSA-UGBS Graduate School road remained poorly lit, leading to tragic incidents, including the attack and death of a student.
Furthermore, initiatives like the incentivization of athletes and the introduction of experiential transcripts for sportsmen and women did not materialize. An athlete, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed disappointment, stating, “None of them happened. I am a dedicated sportsman who would not miss any opportunity given to sportsmen. Nothing ever happened.”
Welfare and Health Initiatives
In the realm of student welfare, the administration’s promises were a mixed bag. While they succeeded in continuing the Food Bank initiative from the previous administration and introduced scholarship schemes, they failed to deliver on key promises such as renovating the dilapidated washrooms at JQB lecture halls and providing WiFi routers in collaboration with JCRs as well as providing movable locker shelves at examination centres. Additionally, the much-anticipated introduction of five new shuttle buses under a subsidized digitalized transport system fell through, as acknowledged by Tsikata himself during his State of the SRC Address in January 2024.
“The SRC endeavoured to introduce 5 new Aayalolo shuttles at a discounted rate of GHS2…Piloting faced glitches, however prompting consideration for reforms under PDMSD,” Tsiakata remarked.
The administration also fell short of delivering on its 24-hour operational SRC pharmacy, providing scholarships for postgraduate studies abroad, forming partnerships with professional bodies, and initiating climate action activities.
Despite these setbacks, the administration did manage to organize several mass NHIS registration and renewal events and worked with Academic Affairs to ensure that medals would be provided for all graduating classes as promised. However, the medals could only be issued in subsequent academic years as referred by the Director of Academic Affairs.
Entrepreneurial and Career Support:
On a more positive note, the administration largely fulfilled its commitments to entrepreneurial ventures and professional development. They organized multiple workshops and career fairs, including forex trading training, a strategic dialogue on digital age living, and the Women in Tech summit, all aimed at equipping students with valuable skills.
In conclusion, the Tsikata-Zanyoh administration’s tenure was characterized by a gap between lofty campaign promises and the realities of governance. While they managed to implement a few key initiatives, many of their most impactful promises remained unfulfilled, leading to widespread student dissatisfaction.
As their term comes to a close, the administration’s legacy will likely be viewed as one of missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential, leaving many students questioning whether their overwhelming electoral mandate was truly justified.
