Speaker of the University of Ghana SRC General Assembly, Kelvin Yeboah, has credited his administration with helping secure a reduction in student residential fees and reviving the long-delayed SRC hostel project, while admitting to major logistical challenges during his tenure.
Speaking on Campus Exclusive on Radio Univers, Yeboah recalled how the General Assembly, working with the SRC executive offices, petitioned the Dean of Students over an increment in Residential Facility User Fees.
“When we came, there was a time when the residential facility user fees were increased by a percentage. The General Assembly, together with the executive offices, petitioned the Dean of Students. We marched from the SRC Union Building to the Dean of Students Affairs’ office, presented a petition, and voiced our grievances. Eventually, we were invited to sit on the matter, and the fees were reduced. That is one of the things that the SRC spearheaded,” he said.
He also pointed to progress on the long-stalled SRC hostel project, explaining that the Assembly demanded accountability from the committee responsible.
“Students have been paying for the SRC hostel for about two or three years now. Members requested that we summon the committee in charge to answer some questions. They appeared before the Assembly, and by God’s grace, we had the sod-cutting. The land was officially handed over for work to begin in November. These are some of the things we are doing to show that we are utilizing the powers of the General Assembly,” Yeboah stated.
On challenges, the Speaker highlighted the lack of a permanent venue for Assembly sittings and the poor punctuality of members.
“Ordinarily, if all members attend, you are looking at about 180 people, but the SRC Union Building is too small to contain such a number. Sometimes, finding a suitable venue on campus is difficult, and even when we request one outside the Dean of Student Affairs’ office, we are asked to pay large amounts of money, which is a challenge,” he explained.
He added that late attendance frequently delays proceedings.
“If a sitting is supposed to start at 6:30 p.m., you realize we sometimes begin at 8:00 p.m. or even 9:00 p.m. because we have not met the quorum,” he noted.
Despite these hurdles, Yeboah expressed optimism that the lessons learned under his leadership would strengthen student governance and inspire continued advocacy for the welfare of students at the University of Ghana.
The General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the SRC.
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Story by Oliver Arthur Acorlor|univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Michelle Lartey
