Stop politics on campus - Otumfuo

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has cautioned students of tertiary institutions against party politics and unnecessary demonstrations which hinder academic progress. He said that instead of the students engaging in political bickering and other negative acts, they should rather focus on their studies to enable them to make an impact on society.

The Asantehene gave the advice at the weekend in a speech read on his behalf by the Tepamanhene, Nana Adusei Tweneboa Ampem at the annual durbar and fundraising of the Asanteman Students Union at the University of Cape Coast. He said that tertiary institutions were not meant to promote party politics, and, therefore, urged them to learn hard and come out successfully for the benefit of society.

The celebration had the theme: “Accommodation problems on UCC campus, the role of the Asanteman Students Union.” Otumfuo Osei Tutu noted that housing of students in tertiary institution was a major problem confronting the country. He commended the Asanteman Students Union for taking steps to build a hostel to help address the problem and pledged his support towards the project.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr S.K. Boafo, urged the students to be visionary in order to attain their goals in life. He called on parents to educate their children to become useful in the society. He announced the setting up of an Orphans Trust Fund to assist needy children in the Ashanti Region.

The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mrs Sophia Sam, called for the promotion of girl-child education in the society. She pointed out that the HIV/AIDS disease was not a punishment for wrongdoing and therefore, urged the students union to guard against it.

The President of ASU, Nana Appiagyei, said that the union assisted students in some districts of the Ashanti Region to improve upon their standards. The hostel facility, he said, would help address the accommodation problem facing students in the university.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof E.K. Obeng, has urged students of the university to make effective use of their time on campus that they complete their courses successfully. He was closing the Faculty of Science Week celebration of the University at Cape Coast, at which 14 students were honoured for excellence.