Accra, Oct. 4, GNA - New executives for the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) were on Thursday inducted into office with a call on them to commit themselves to the promotion of students' interest and national development.

"Achieve the task of leading student by consensus building during your tenure of office and maintain effective relationship between yourselves and the students...and make NUGS stronger and more relevant", Mr O B Amoah, Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Sports, said at the induction ceremony in Accra.

He noted that experience should teach them that conflict was an inevitable part of progress and change but through effective problem solving and constructive criticism they could open up channels of discussion and co-operative action. Mr Amoah said with a greater majority of the population being the youth, there was the need to build a comprehensive strategy for the future through education.

He said with reports of disunity, disloyalty in the media and mistrust leading to accusation and counter accusations in the media, "your willingness to listen and even take blame, believing in yourself, honesty and show of respect to all you deal with should enable you create a better NUGS", he added. Dr Richard Anane, Former Minister for Transportation, advised the executives to use dialogue and papers to voice out their grievances to the relevant authorities instead of resorting to violence. He entreated them to adopt good leadership skills and pay attention to the concerns of the student body so as to live a legacy behind them. Mr William Yamoah, outgoing President, commended his executives and the entire student body for their support during their term of office. He said during his tenure, he was able to draft a five-year strategic plan to give the Union a focal direction and send good signals to their stakeholders and partners in development. Mr Yamoah said his executive did not also relent in efforts to protect student interests as well as contributing effectively to the country's development agenda.

According to him, the Student Trust Loan and the Student Discount Card, which would serve a multi-purpose allowing students to purchase goods on hire were implemented under his regime. Mr Yamoah charged the new executives to commit themselves to hard work and to avoid factions that perpetrate self-seeking interests against that of the entire student body. The executives are; Mr Tuoho K. Bompason, University of Development Studies (UDS), President, Ms Alice Gyasi-Mensah, Accra City Campus, University of Ghana (UG)-Legon, Secretary, Mr Gbang Vitus, UG, Coordinating Secretary and Michael Tehoda, Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Programmes and Projects Coordinator. The rest are, Mr Sebastian David Amoah, GIJ, Press Secretary, Ms Christiana Baah, UDS, Women's Commissioner, Mr Fafa Yussif, Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), Treasurer, Ms Fidelia Awakoe, University of Cape Coast, Education and Democratisation Secretary, Mr Frank Owusu Ansah, IPS, Financial Controller and Mr Abdul Karim, UG, International Relations Secretary.

Mr Bompason pledged to dedicate himself to office to help solve the numerous problems of students such as high tuition fees and accommodation problems, especially within the tertiary institutions. He also called on government to provide the needed infrastructure and resources with immediate effect in order for the new Education Reform Programme to achieve its target.