The University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) chapter of the Ghana Association of University Administrators, (GAUA) has been inaugurated at a ceremony in the Multi-Purpose Auditorium of the University in Somanya in the Eastern Region.
The six-member Committee which was inaugurated by the National President of GAUA, Mr. Kwabena Antwi-Konadu has as President, Dr. Hammond Oppong-Kwarteng: Vice President, Mr. Baffuor Osei Akoto: Secretary, Ms. Cynthia Ameyaa Oduro: Vice Secretary, Ms. Araba Korsah: Editor, Barbara Mary Yakubu, and Mr. Isaac Kobina Fenyi, Trustee.
In his remarks, Mr. Antwi-Konadu congratulated the executives on their position. He urged them to be united to achieve their goal of fighting and protecting the rights of members. In a speech, the President of the newly initiated executive, Dr. Hammond Oppong-Kwarteng thanked members for the confidence reposed in team to lead them He also expressed appreciation to GAUA National, the UESD Union, and the Management of UESD for the support it has received in the past year.
He spelt out some of the team’s successes, including arranging for members to enroll in professional development courses and attending to members’ welfare. He also acknowledged the cordial working relationship, members have had with other Unions on campus–UTAG, SSA, and TEWU.
Dr. Oppong-Kwarteng assured members of leadership’s resolve to work within its power to guarantee members’ rights, ‘without compromising the good relationship that exists between us and Management.’
For the 2022 academic year, Dr. Oppong -Kwarteng indicated, the association intends to organize a public lecture on health-related issues for its members as well as other activities.
The newly sworn-in President of UESD GAUA shared with members five thought-provoking themes he christened, the five Hs, which he hopeful will guide their personal, professional, and careers and also develop their leadership potentials to serve the University and society better. These are Honesty, Humility, Hard work, Human Relations, and Humanity. He was confident these values will impact their lives greatly if they exhibit them in their daily interactions with the public.
The chairman for the inauguration, the UESD Vice-Chancellor, Prof Eric Nyarko-Sampson said, the existence of unions, helps in the growth of organisations, and therefore he is confident the UESD GAUA union will do well to fight for the welfare of its members. He indicated that he has had significant engagements with the executives and arrived at certain decisions which have been positive.
He commended the executives for the thought-provoking messages received at the function and expressed confidence that the information received will reflect in the performance of their duty. The Vice-Chancellor stated that; the onus lies on them as administrators to put into practice, what they have learned. Adding that; ‘’the University’s successes lie on us. Administrators are people on whose shoulders the University rests.’’
There were solidarity messages from sister Unions on campus, made up of UTAG, SSA, TEWU including a solidarity message from the Registrar, Mrs Mary Abena Agyepong. She charged the members particularly the executives to research and know their boundaries to be emotionally mature in order not to repeat mistakes of history. She said, efforts should be made to ensure UESD GAUA succeeds. Mrs Agyepong encouraged members to dialogue with the executive while leadership should be open for discussion for the common good of UESD.
The Registrar at the Takoradi Technical Institute, Mr. Moses Abnory, the guest of Honour and resource person for a workshop on: The role of the Contemporary University Administrator, said, there is one common interest under Unionism and that is to make life better for members. Therefore, the executives should be united, build trust, and support Management but they should not be in bed with Management. He also called on members to offer their support to the executives to succeed.
Also present at the ceremony was the National Secretary of GAUA, Mr. Felix -Adu Poku.