NUGS congratulates Kufuor

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on Wednesday congratulated President John Agyekum Kufuor and his government for successfully going through the first 100 days in office in spite of the precarious economy it inherited.

"For us students, we can only rejoice in the fact that the first three months of a new government have been completed without any major flaw or impediment."

A statement signed by Mr Emmanuel Arthur, Press and Information Officer, commended the President for his "good sense of direction, which has culminated in the smooth running of the state machinery in a phenomenal manner".

It urged government to do something quickly to put the educational system on track, and called on Ghanaians to lend their support to the government to enable it to face the challenges and aspiration as promised by the party.

Meanwhile, NUGS has condemned the alleged molestation of the University of Cape Coast Students Representative Council (SRC) President by a cross-section of student in an attempt to prevent him from discussing the grading system on the local FM station instead of an originally planned forum.

The union said the punishment meted out to him was rather unfortunate. The NUGS said it was unhappy about the relations between students of the university and the authorities following a demonstration by a section of the students over the grading system during the 31st congregation late last month.

"While appreciating the fact that demonstrations that occur on such a function was unfortunate, the union is of the view that it could have been avoided if the university authorities had given a hearing to the students' concern over the issue."

It apologised to President John Kufuor who was represented by Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Education, as well as other ministers of state, traditional rulers and the public for any embarrassment the unfortunate situation might have caused.

The statement cautioned all SRCs and students leaders to utilise approved avenues of seeking redress over grievances until they are proved as not to be yielding result.

NUGS welcomed the setting up of a committee of enquiry to probe the demonstration and bring the students involved to book.

It, however, expressed the hope that the committee is not only set up to victimise students in a witch-hunting exercise but would thoroughly investigate the grading system, and the substantive matter that gave cause for the demonstration.

The union cautioned that if any student is victimised, the campus stands the risk of experiencing an "ungovernable" situation.