The Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Koawo Edjah, has called on student leaders to build good relationship with management of the University to promote a congenial environment for academic work.

Prof. Edjah noted that as key stakeholders, student leaders play important roles in achieving the mission and vision of the University.

Prof. Edjah made these statements at the opening of a three-day orientation for the 2017/2018 executives of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Local National Union of Ghana Students (LNUGS) and Junior Common Room (JCR) of the various halls on campus.  The Dean of Student Affairs entreated the student leaders to resort to dialogue when seeking redress on any issue affecting the welfare of their colleagues. “Students should not be seen as fighting with management but we must use the laid down structures to address all grievances”, he stressed.

The Assistant Registrar, Training and Development Section, Mr. Emmanuel Afreh Owusu, advised the student leaders to be mindful of the trust and confidence the entire student body of the University had entrusted in them and deliver on their expectation. He admonished them to live exemplary lifestyles and also discharge their duties without display of corruption, arrogance and disrespect whilst in office. 

Speaking on “Developing Annual Action Plan based on a Strategic Plan,” Mr. Kwamina Minta Nyarku of the School of Business, explained that all activities or projects to be executed within their tenure of office should fall within their strategic plan. He advised the students to also carry out their duties to reflect the core values which had been captured in the SRC 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. “You need to be guided by excellence, transparency and accountability, solidarity, discipline and integrity as stated in your own document”, he added.

Touching on the strength and weakness of a Strategic Plan, Mr. Nyarku implored the student leaders to take advantage of their strength and transform the students’ union as one of the best in the country and beyond. “Under no circumstances should you allow your strength to turn into weakness, but rather, you need to transform your weakness into strength”, he emphasised. He urged them to initiate projects that would make them stand out in the history of student leadership in the University.

Mr. Daniel Quainoo from the Directorate of Internal Audit who spoke on “Public Fund Management, Risk Register and Execution” noted that as a public institution, the University of Cape Coast financial activities were being regulated by public legislative instruments. He indicated that all financial activities undertaken by the University including students and non-students’ activities should follow the guidelines in accordance with the Financial Administrative Act 2003 (Act 654), Public Procurement Act 2003 (Act 663) and Internal Audit Act 2003 (Act 658).  Mr. Quainoo said the Directorate has been conducting both pre and post audit on the financial activities of students’ association each year. He advised the student leaders to ensure that they follow the laid down procedure in obtaining funds for projects or activities.

Other topics  treated at the orientation are Daily Checks & Inspection, Grooming and Leadership in Tertiary Institutions, Management of a Value Book Register, Payment Voucher(Imprest), Special Advance, Journal Voucher, Cheques, Preparation of a Cashbook, Bank Reconciliation Statement and Ledgers and Final Accounts.

Others include Pre-Audit Procedures, Assets Management in UCC, Time Management and Student Leaders, Dispute and Disciplinary issues among Student Leaders, Student Governance in the SRC/Halls-Collective Accountability Issues, Preparation of a Procurement Process for Contracts and Channels of Communication and How to Obtain Permission for Groups to travel.