The Ghana United Nations Students and Youth Association (GUNSA) says government’s efforts to expand and increase access to high school education deserves commendation and support.

The association is however asking government to create what it calls window of opportunities for adequate national consultations on both the Free Senior High School (FSHS) and the soon-to-be implemented Double Track System to allow for more inputs to strengthen the success of the initiatives.

A communiqué issued in Accra at the end of the 42nd Annual National Convention of GUNSA at the University of Ghana in Accra said to the extent that the policies by government seeks to make more young people literate and prepared for future challenges, the needed support ought to be offered.

“There are thousands of young people who didn’t get the chance in the pre-FSHS as a result of limited access created by what we all know it to be cut-off points. The sad fate of those people, wherever they are, must inspire us, as a nation to do more to ensure everyone gets access to secondary education”, newly elected General Secretary of GUNSA, Mr Emmanuel J.K Arthur told journalists.

The association is urging government to commit adequate funding for the provision of more classrooms as well as the provision of more teaching and learning aids to enhance the quality of the FSHS programme.



Meanwhile, GUNSA is now fully revived and has new National Executives to stir the affairs of the organisation for next two years.

The new 8-member team is head by a trained teacher, youth activist and an event organiser, Kwashie Klu-Duvor as National President to be assisted by Eric Bernard Lutterodt and Emmanuel Nana Kojo Ansah as First and Second Vice Presidents respectively.

Journalist and public relations practitioner, Emmanuel J.K Arthur is the new General Secretary and has Mr Marcus Garvey Ashiangmor as his deputy while the position of National Treasurer and Women’s Commissioner were won by Irene Enyonam Kwashie and Monalisa Olivia Brew respectively. A development professional, Anane Yao Kuwornu was elected National Youth Wing Co-ordinator.

The elections took place at the just-ended 42nd Annual Delegates Conference of the association held at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana on the theme “Harnessing the potentials of youth and students for national development”.

The 4-day Conference discussed national and international issues and evaluated the progress of the association, one of the oldest youth groups in Ghana and re-aligned its vision and mission to the current challenges of the times.

GUNSA was formed in 1963 to champion the cause of the United Nations capitalising on the strength of youth and students. The outcomes of its previous annual conferences have shaped many national policies and programmes.

T

The association operates in second cycle and tertiary institutions. It also has a community-based outlet known as the Youth Wing.

Traditionally, the serving Minister for Foreign Affairs is the Chief Patron of GUNSA and over the years, the association has produced dozens of prominent individuals some of whom still occupy national and international positions.

Among them is the current Vice President, Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia; Mr Alfred Thompson, Deputy Managing Director of the National Investment Bank; Dr Ebenezer Malcolm, Dean of the Graduate Studies at the Ghana Technology University; Myra Togoboh of the United Nations Office in Ghana and Sena Siaw-Boateng, Diplomat and Special Advisor to the Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; Mr Paul Asare Ansah, former Director-General of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHPA) and Mr Bright Akwetey, a retired State Attorney.