Student bodies in the country’s tertiary organisations have now become mouthpiece for government, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings has said.

Speaking at the 14th Prestigious Lecture series at the Ghana Telecom University College (GTUC), Mrs Rawlings said the umbrella body for student groups – National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) – has now become emasculated due to its hijack by politicians.

“Historically, student bodies served as a litmus test in judging the effectiveness of government or otherwise. Student bodies were the conscience of the society.

“They led demonstrations, yes, but they led it for and against government policies, it was not consistent; some were for, some were against. And they always had a united front.

“Today, political parties have taken over student organisations and sadly, political party youth groups are more powerful than the SRCs and the mother organisation, the NUGS. NUGS no longer serves as a unified politically unadulterated front for students,” she said, wondering: “How then can such a huge resource of young people help to inform national debate when these organisations themselves have turned into mouthpiece for a sitting government?”