BRONG AHAFO STUDENTS’ UNION UNIVERSITY OF GHANA
HANDING OVER SPEECH
DELIVERED BY KENNEDY DONKOR, PRESIDENT OF BASU-UG 2021/2022 ADMINISTRATION
1. Hon. Chairperson, BASU-UG Patron, BASU National President, Alumni, past and present Executives, Members, invited guests, distinguished ladies, and gentlemen. I want to welcome you all to this august event. It is my great pleasure and honor to be present here tonight to give a speech on behalf of the outgoing executives.
2. There is a mixture of happiness and sadness on this occasion as we hand over the mantle to the next executives of Brong Ahafo Students’ Union UG. Today’s event is imperative because it marks the launching of BASU’s 65th anniversary which will be next year. Indeed, this event will be recorded in the history of BASU-UG.
3. Hon. Chairperson, permit me to add my voice to the Chieftaincy dispute which happened at Bomaa on 10th January 2023 in the Ahafo Region. It was quite unfortunate for the Region to loosed a precious soul in that manner. BASU-UG is calling upon the traditional leaders, IGP, and REGSEC to get the culprits in the act.
We also want to plea with the two families to find an amicable solution and the rightful heir to the throne, than resorting to violence. Our condolence to the deceased family. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
4. Hon. Chairperson, there is a saying that a nation that does not honor its heroes is not worth dying for. It is on this byword that Hon. Chairperson, I ask for your permission to acknowledge the visioners’ who made this magnificent Union a reality (Thus the late Emeritus Prof. George Benneh and his friends). I will also want to appreciate some individuals who facilitated in making my administration successful.
5. First of all, I will want to appreciate our humble and approachable Patron Professor Albert Ahenkan with all his busy schedule he still made time for us.
6. Permit me again to acknowledge the entire alumni, especially Lawyer Prince Benson, Mr. Nelson Amoah, Mr. Emmanuel Obeng, Mr. Yeboah Napoleon, Kwabena Mensah Abronpah (News anchor and a radio host), and many more for their adorable consistent support for the union.
7. Hon. Chairperson, there is a saying that behind every successful man, there is a woman however, I want to affirm that behind any good leader, there are great executives that work assiduously. Special gratitude to my able vice president Mss. Abigail Boateng Annor, Mr. Prince Probe, Mr. Barrister Mfah Amadu, Mr. Amankwaa Gyan Acquinas, the incoming President (Mr. Benjamin Crentsil the financial secretary), and the entire executive for their activism efforts during my administration.
8. Hon. Chairperson, my administration took office in September 2021 to manage the affairs of BASU-UG. I will then ask for your indulgence to elaborate on some of the achievements since we took the mantle.
(i) Hon. Chairperson, the first two months in office of my administration were focused on advocating the union through radio stations and all social media (which was named selling BASU-UG). This was a strategy adopted to make sure that every department, hall, and student within the University of Ghana end-cliff hears about BASU, especially our purpose, and objectives. And this has made BASU-UG great and prevalent on campus.
(ii) Again, my administration organized one of the finest orientations for our freshers and continue-students. Hon. Chairperson, it will interest you to know that the attendees were over capacity and demanded extra seats and refreshments (item 13). The event was graced by Professor Albert Ahenkan (HOD UGBS), Mr. David Douglas (CEO of DDLF), Mr. Ibrahim Abu-Agyeman (who works at Ghana’s parliament), Mr. Emmanuel Obeng, and Mr. Yeboah Napoleon.
(iii) Hon. Chairperson, as we are all aware that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and also all work and no play is not good for the soul. Based on this notion we organized a successful BASU day out to the Labadi beach. I want to acknowledge our dear and adorable members as they came in numbers and the bus has to convey us twice based on the numbers. The event was coupled with horse riding, swimming, socializing, networking, and making new friends.
(iv) Furthermore, the Executives of BASU-UG paid a courtesy visit to members of parliament whose constituencies are within Bono, Ahafo, and Bono East. We were able to meet Hon. Stephen Jalulah (Pru West constituency), Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim (Banda constituency), Hon. Kwabena Donkor (Pru East constituency), Hon. William Okofo- Dateh (Jaman South), and Hon. Fredrick Yaw Ahenkwah (Jaman North). The intention of the visitation was how to strengthen the relationship between BASU-UG and our members of parliament to mutually work together in helping our younger ones
in the Senior High School and Junior High School in terms of mentorship, voluntary work, and mass education in the three Regions. I want to urge the incoming executives to continue with the discussion from where we ended.
(v) Hon. Chairperson, my administration also introduced an Identification Card that bears the signature of our patron Professor Albert Ahenkan to all executives to be used in visiting any public office. I want to encourage the incoming executives to extend it to the entire members.
(vi) Moreover, my administration saw it relevant to establish two vital offices for the triumph of BASU-UG. First, was the Academic Affairs Committee to frequently and consistently update our members on academic purposes. The second office was the organizing committee to help the organizing secretary in carrying out his responsibilities.
(vii) Hon. Chairperson, my tenure as president has led to the review of the BASU-UG constitution which was one of the promises I made during my campaign as a candidate. Hon. Chairperson, I want you and all present here to join me to applaud, appreciate and acknowledge the Constitutional Review Committee for their assiduous activism especially the legal advisor Mss. Adinkrah Takyiwaa Dorothy who chaired the committee. A very big thank you to the committee for your great work.
(viii) Hon. Chairperson, my incumbency saw that getting access to BASU-UG history and information was quite tedious and difficult in this twenty-first century. My administration saw it prudent to amalgamate any information deemed relevant which can be accessed by just typing Brong Ahafo Students Union – Legon Chapter on your browser.
(ix) Hon. Chairperson, due to the collective hard work of my executives BASU-UG was nominated as the best student Union in 2022 by Ghana, Tertiary Excellence Awards. Though the Union did not emerge as the winner, we are hoping that the incoming executives will win the category for the union. I want to thank our Alumni for their immersed support during the voting.
(x) Besides that, Hon. Chairperson, my administration was able to organize, a free, fair, and transparent election to elect the incoming executives.
(xi) Lastly Hon. Chairperson, my term of office also introduces BASU excellence awards (B.E.A). This is to award and encourage our hard-working executives and members who have impacted positively to BASU-UG as well as Ghana at large.
9. However, Hon. Chairperson, my administration also faced some challenges which I will want the incoming executives to pay much attention to.
10. I will like to reiterate the words of my predecessor Mr. Yeboah Napoleon on the day of transition when he mentioned the bridge between BASU-UG and the Alumni being weak. The relationship has to be strengthened. I, want to say that, it will be very great for the Alumni to serve as a mentoring, monitoring, and coaching team for the Union.
11. Hon. Chairperson, some of my executives and members exhibited a lack of commitment and lateness during my administration. I expect the incoming executives to show a high level of commitment and work hard because the members have entrusted their powers to them to function on their behave.
12. Hon. Chairperson, financial constraint is another challenge we face as a Union and it has been the biggest challenge since my predecessors. The only source of income is to rely on dues which is not enough for running the affairs of the union.
(i) Hon. Chairperson, We the executives at times have to contribute part of our pocket money to be able to call for general meetings and provide item-13.
(ii) BASU-UG outreach, and Efie ne fie program couldn’t materialize because of lack of funds.
I will then call upon businessmen, companies, alumni, the media, our politicians, and cooperate bodies from Brong Ahafo to support the union thrive and also keep our heritage as people of Brong Ahafo (now Bono, Ahafo, and Bono East).
13. I am also anticipating that; the incoming executives should consider a discussion to expand the patron structure to reduce the burden of our patron. I think there should be a board of patrons that should at least consist of a Traditional ruler, a Lawyer, a Businessman, A judge, a CEO, a politician, and academicians which we already have (Professor Albert Ahenkan). This will facilitate in widening the network of the union.
14. I am again expecting that the incoming executives should work on the BASU scholarship scheme (B.S.S) to help our dear members. Hon. Chairperson, I want to plead with our politicians especially Ministers, Members of Parliament, Municipal Chief Executives, and Districts Chief Executives in Brong Ahafo (thus Bono, Ahafo, and Bono East) to at least give one slot of scholarship to BASU-UG every academic year. Hon. Chairperson, it will interest you to know that if the above-mentioned can give at least a slot of scholarship to BASU-UG, the Union will be able to give out not less than sixty scholarships to its members every academic year. This will give opportunity to the less privileged.
15. I am much glad to see some Executives from my administration being part of the incoming
Executives. They are familiar with these challenges. I, therefore, expect that the incoming executives will put on their armor and gather the impetus to see every problem as a challenge and not every challenge as a problem.
Once again Hon. Chairperson, it’s indeed a mixture of sadness as today marks the end of our tenure of office, though we handing over the mantle to the incoming executives we will be available to assist them when the need arises.
I am Highly grateful to the Almighty God for His support and guidance through my incumbency as president and the smooth transition of power we are witnessing now.
To the dignitaries, co-executives, and the entire membership of this noble union.
Thank you all for your attention. God bless you.
Long live Brong Ahafo Region
Long live University of Ghana
Long live BASU!!!!
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