The 10th Congress of the All African Students Union has ended in Accra, Ghana
with a clarion call to all African students to unite to help the continent as
over the past month the reputation for the continent has been maligned with
protest and fighting especially in the Northern sides of Africa.
In a Press Conference at the Ghana International Conference, the newly elected
heads were presented to the media and they also briefed the media on some of the
actions planned for the months ahead.
The Congress which came off from 22nd -26th February, under the theme “ Looking
back to move forward: the students as a resource for peace and development in
Africa ”the last gathering took place in now trouble Libyan Capital Tripoli in
2000, to chart new frontiers for the organization and elect a new leadership for
a4-year tenure. The 10th Congress of the Union at the organization of Africa
Trade Union Unity. The purpose of the press conference was to inform society at
large of the election of new leadership again who will represent the new face of
a renewed and revived AASU. In conformity of the organizational rules and
dictates these new leaders were elected during the congress. The new leaders
meet with Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister to discuss the way forward for the
Union in Ghana and Ghana’s support for the Union as the Deputy Secretary-General
comes from Ghana.
The newly elected President Representative from Sudan, Hatham Mahmood, who spoke
through an interpreter said “we will unite African students” and move the
continent forward, he added.
Speaking at the Press conference, Peter Mugisa from Uganda, Information
Organizing Committee said the leadership of AASU, countries are elected to
various positions and their members union send their accredited representative
to Ghana to work in the Secretariat of the Union as mandated. He disclosed that
some landmark reforms have been adopted such a program on HIV/Aids to be
implemented through out Africa by students, and further reiterated that the
Union will harness the corporate strengths of the union to serve it mandate in
the interest of all African students as well as championing continental unity,
development and global cooperation . The Union says they will assure and
reassure all stakeholders of their continued commitment to building a society
where freedoms are cherished, rule of law entrenched and human centred
development is pursued.
Mr Mugisa said the new leadership had earlier paid a courtesy call on Ghana’s
Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, to discuss pressing issues
concerning the Union.
He said some other landmark reforms had been adopted, which would harness the
corporate strengths of the Union to serve its mandate in the interest of the
Africa students as well as championing continental unity, development and global
cooperation.
The Union does elected an individual but a country to represent a position of
the Union ,so the countries elected to the new executive position are ,and the
representation are also trickling in ,
The new leadership are listed below:
President – Hatham Mahamood - Sudan
Secretary-General –Peter Mugisa - Uganda
Deputy Secretary General – Abdual Kani Hakim- Ghana
Secretary for Finance – Edem Amo - Togo
Secretary for Press& Information – M/s Angela Jumada - Mauritius,
Secretary for Education & Student Rights – Simon Kipala - Tanzania
The next congress is expected to be in scheduled for a date to soon be announced
by the Secretariat, based in Ghana soon.