MARKING 100 DAYS IN OFFICE; THE JOURNEY SO FAR! (AN ACCOUNT OF FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE OF THE 2013/14 GIJ-SRC) PART A - INTRODUCTION On Thursday, 25th April 2013, New Executives were sworn into office and consequently formed the 2013/14 GIJ-SRC. For the benefit of doubts, below are the Executives and their respective portfolios: Noel Nutsugah- President; Bilkisu Nuhu-Kokroko- Vice President; Gabriel Obodai Torgbor-Ashong- General Secretary; Zarina Amandi – External Affairs Commissioner; Grace Asare – Women’s Commissioner; Faiza Mohammed – Organizer; and Ralph Dinko – Financial Secretary. Since our induction into office, we’ve strived to work hard, mainly during the vacation, to get the best for students in terms of projects, facilities and services as we promised during our campaigns. Saturday, 3rd August marked our 100th day in office. What tangible things have we to show? Though not mandatory, the SRC deems it prudent to share with you our success stories and as well, notify you on our priority areas for next semester. Take time to read. PART B - THE SUCCESS STORIES 1) POLICY CHANGE IN REFERALS FOR FINAL YEAR STUDENTS: BEFORE Students, who completed GIJ and still had papers to re-sit for, were mandated to write their papers the following year. This made it impossible for such students to graduate with their colleagues. NOW The SRC has managed to advocate, through council, to have this problem reversed. In the face of this new policy, final year students who complete but has a referred paper will be given a special date within that same year to re-sit before graduation date. This will enable such a fellow to graduate with his/her colleagues. 2) VODAFONE CALL PLAN FOR STUDENTS BEFORE Anytime you wish to call friends and inform them about any urgent development on campus (e.g. a change in lecture time) or for casual discussions, it becomes difficult to communicate with them since the you’d have to spend a lot on credit before. NOW The SRC is working assiduously with VODAFONE to introduce a very affordable, convenient and innovative CALL PLAN for all students when school reopens. Under this initiative, students would be required to subscribe to the plan at a fee of Two (2) Ghana Cedis only and would enjoy FREE unlimited calls to any other student who will subscribe to the plan. However, benefactors (subscribers) of the plan are required to buy 5 cedis credit monthly. This implies that, if you call anyone on the plan, it is absolutely free for the whole month. The SRC is registering 1000 students in the first phase of the project: communication between these 1000 students will therefore be absolutely free if they all get the sim cards. This call plan from VODAFONE is UNIQUELY designed to suit students’ life and make communication among us more convenient. 3) GUPS VICTORY THEN For many years, until recently, GIJ was virtually absent in the leadership front of National Student bodies like GUPS and NUGS. This therefore deprived the institute the opportunity of directly contributing to certain developmental drives for students at the National level. NOW Through a foundation laid by the 2012-13 SRC led by Raymond Bayor, the current SRC showed great commitment and supported some students in becoming GUPS Executives. Today, key positions like the President, Women’s Commissioner and Press and Information Secretary are being held by GIJ Students. 4) INTERNET ACCESS THEN We all knew the state of internet access before leaving campus for the vacation. You had to either go to the Executive Lecture hall or pay lots of money before having access to internet which wasn’t even so effective. NOW When school reopens, you can only refer to that situation as something which happened in the past on GIJ Campus. This is because, the SRC’s consistent follow-ups and close working relations with Management, has resulted in the installation of a wireless system on campus. The Managers of the Wireless have been given an office on campus to facilitate their work. This we believe will make it easier for you to do your research work and other relevant activities online. 5) LECTURE FREE DAYS THEN For several years, almost all student-related activities on campus had to come to an abrupt end at 4pm to make way for lectures no matter how crucial the event may be. NOW On 13th May, 2013, the Executive Committee of the SRC in a meeting with management requested and had management to agree to grant students a Two-day lecture free during official Functions of the SRC such as SRC Week, Akwaaba Week and/or seminars. This then means that, on such lecture free days, students would have much time to hold events and get the best out of them. PART C - ACHIEVING VERY SOON FOR OUR BENEFIT 1) SUMMER HAT: THEN Due to the disproportionate number of students to space on campus, students encounter difficulty in finding convenient spots on campus to sit and study or use their laptops. NOW As of now, through the effort of the 2012/13 SRC and the Current SRC, space has been created by relocating Eddy’s Printing Centre and the SRC Office to make way for a summer hat. This facility will be furnished with basic facilities like seats and electricity/sockets to make it easy and convenient for you to study and do other personal stuff. 2) SRC BUS It’s unfortunate to know students are charged exorbitant fees anytime they’re embarking on educational trip with a school bus beyond Accra. Some from far places find it difficult to getting to campus early enough for lectures and safely returning. We worry when we hear students have been attacked and robbed whilst going home in the evening especially during exams times. We as students deserve better *Due to your immense support and Contribution, we as students would soon own and use our bus to our benefit; if everything goes well. 3) COMPUTER LAB The Computer Lab is almost ready for use. Management is fully funding this project through tender and should be inaugurated before first semester of the 2013/14 academic year ends. PART D- SOME PRIORITY AREAS TO PURSUE • Getting Results on Time With GPA Calculated • Audio Visual Room to be opened to students • Creation of a Sick Bay (First aid kit) • Industrial Visit • Improved Sanitation: Wash Rooms/Gutters • Online Quarterly Newspaper-Press /SRC News letter • Leadership Seminars • SRC Business Centre( Sale of customized books, bands, pens etc) • PART E- CONCLUSION The journey has not been easy within the first 100days in Office, but in all difficult circumstances, we as Executive members gave off our best for you. Your support and cooperation also urged us on to do more. We hope your recommendations and criticisms will continue in a constructive manner. We profoundly thank the Almight for bringing us this far. We pray he carries us through the coming Semester Successfully. If you have any recommendation, questions or clarification, do not hesitate to send us an email via gijsrc@gmail Best Regards! SIGNED Noel Nutsugah Gabriel Obodai Torgbor-Ashong President/General Secretary
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 14:02:17 +0000
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