MINUTES OF THE SECOND ORDINARY SITTING OF GUPS GENERAL ASSEMBLY – 2014/2015

MINUTES OF THE SECOND ORDINARY SITTING OF GUPS GENERAL ASSEMBLY - 2014/2015

DATE: APRIL 25,2015

VENUE: AFRICAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS, (AUCC) ACCRA

AGENDA

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

SECRETARIAT REPORT

INSTITUTIONAL REPORT

WEEK CELEBRATION REPORT

FORMATION AND RATIFICATION OF COMMITEES

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

PROCEEDINGS

Opening prayer was said by Hon. Wisdom Gmayan at about 5:15pm to commence the meeting. Chairman asked Hon. Roger to interpret interventional signs and engage the house on the rules and procedures of General Assembly. Hon Elorm  Mawuli  Kwawu afterwards nominated Jeffrey Gyamfi of GIJ as porter for the meeting and was unanimously accepted.

SECRETARIAT REPORT

The activities of the National Secretariat between the periods of December 2014 to April 2015 were presented to the house by Hon Irene Osei Wirekoa, Coordinating Secretary. Hon Gmayan inquired whether NAFTI was a fully-fledged University as captured as captured in the report for which the Hon Coordinating Secretary put him in order by saying that was not the issue being discussed. Hon Nii Tagoe was concerned about the wording of the concluding part of the report. He stated his discomort with the words “casting snares and innuendos upon us”.

The Hon. Coordinating Secretary accepted the concern and that part of the report was corrected after Hon. Bismarck Aryee has made further comments on the issue.  Hon. Insah Haki condemned the non-payment of dues by the various institutions and enjoined all member institutions to fulfill their financial obligations to the union as failure to do that will inhibit the progress of the union.

Hon Richmond Kodua querried why secretariat meetings were always held at GSSM as captured by the report. The President responded by indicating that GSSM was a convenient converging point for all National Executives hence the trend.

The General Secretary, Hon Benjamin Alpha threw more light on the subject. In his attempt to provide a different  angle  to the issue  he stressed that it is due to lack of funds to refurbish the defunct GUPS office that is why it National Executives were left with no option to improvise with member Institutions as venues  for meetings. He stressed that if member institutions do not do well to honour their financial obligations even statutory activities such as General Assembly will  be difficult to organize.

Hon.  Haruna Roger afterwards moved for the adoption of the report and was seconded by Hon.Eric Owusu Ansah, the finance controller of the union.

INSTITUTIONAL REPORT

Briefing the house on what was happening in various institution, SRC Executives from member institutions took to the podium to deliver institutional report. The reports delivered had three thematic areas which cut across board achievements, challenges and elections.  It was agreed that all the Local GUPS President will forward their reports to the coordinating secretary to be compiled into a dossier.

SOLIDARITY MESSAGE

Hon Paul Worlanyo, Co coordinating secretary of the National Union of  Ghana Students delivered a message on behalf of NUGS. He pledged NUGS support to the advancement of GUPS’ support to the advancement of GUPS and also clarified issues concerning a document believed to have been signed by the NUGS President approving of a proposed utility billing policy.

ANY OTHER MATTERS

The Co-coordinating Secretary of the union bemoaned the seeming apathy of members towards the activities of the union and asked for the trend to be reversed.

Hon Kingsley from UCOMS raised the issue of NUGS President signing a proposal for the payment of utility bills. The issue was clarified by the NUGS Coordinating secretary. Further response was provided by the GUPS President, Hon Ken Dorgbetor.

Hon Elorm Mawuli raised the issue of electoral disputes in various institutions and challenged the union to do something about it. He also challenged the union to state its position on the payment of utility bills; a proposition that the house unanimously voted for. On international programmes embarked on by G.I.L as raised by a representative of GIL GUPS International Relations Secretary. Hon. Eleazor Asante responded by saying that as and when the institutions will contact GUPS, he will personally assist them.

RATIFICATION OF COMMITEES

The following committees   were ratified.

FACE OF GUPS COMMITTEE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SUMMIT COMMITTEE

The committees were headed by the GUPS Women’s Commissioner Nancy Araba Aggrey and GUPS International Relation Secretary Eleazor Asante respectively.

Hon Bismark Aryee, NAFTI SRC President moved for the closure of the meeting and was seconded by Hon. Dorcas, UPSA. The closing prayer was said by Hon.Insah Haki and the meeting was adjourned sine die at exactly 6:26 pm.

Benjamin Alpha

General Secretary