The Evangelical Presbyterian University College (EPUC)- Ho Alumni Association successfully held their maiden Homecoming and Congress on Saturday, August 13, 2022 at the Ho Kpodzi campus.
The Congress which was preceded with a massive float through the principal streets of Ho on Friday, the evening was also used to elect new Executives for the next two years.
As the congress also had the agenda of collaborating with management of the University to formulate strategies to put EPUC on the World map, The President of the university college, Professor Edem Kwasi Bakah called on the support of the Alumni, to achieve charter, as established in his address to congress.
“We are required to charter by August 2024. This is required by law and all private universities in Ghana must ensure that they charter, or else they will face closure. My cherished alumnus, alumna, your university must charter, if not it will become history. Without the support of all stakeholders, we cannot charter. That is why we need your support urgently; financially and any kind of support that you can give us so that we can prepare for charter.”
With the theme, ‘Sustaining and expanding private universities in Ghana amidst global challenges, the Role of Alumni as a key Stakeholder’, Guest Speaker Rev Dr. Israel Nyarko touched on salient points the Alumni and all stakeholders can execute to sustain and expand private Universities in Ghana.
“Private universities need a strong association to foster unity among them and to speak with a common voice and develop political capital to enable them to lobby the government for support, in terms of financial grants, tax relieves, infrastructural support through bodies such as GetFund and other bodies that affect their operations. They also need to recruit international students and offer innovative programmes to attract working professionals and mature students.”
“Alumni can help with global admissions and recruitment efforts, career and professional development, local and international advocacy or lobbying, and generous philanthropic support. Alumni can also provide counsel and valuable feedback to an institution’s direction, curriculum, career readiness, and reputation by allowing alumnus to serve on academic boards, committees, and university councils.” He added, among others.
Simon K.M Avorgah, A lecturer at the Ho Technical University and Alumna, shared a few words of encouragement to congress.
“If you can come together and see to the development of EPUC, a lot can be achieved. If you are afraid to direct your children to the university you attended, then it means you didn’t leave a good record there. Alumni are for development and not to fight management. The best thing is to give advice. Some will also be behind student and staff agitation; I will advise you eschew from all that. Rather look at what development you can bring.”
Chairman of the congress, Togbe Atatsi V, Miamefia of the Leklebi Traditional Area and Dufia of Leklebi Kame, who is an Alumnus, in his closing remarks noted
“Having listened to all speakers of this very important congress, I have observed that indeed we have a larger role to play as Alumni. It is good that we have come together to stabilize the Alumni Association. We thank all speakers for their though provoking speeches and I believe with the new executives coming, we shall put our shoulders to the wheel and make EPUC great.”
Also present at the congress was the outgone Acting Registrar, Obed W.K Adom and outgone Alumni President, Dzorgbenyui Seake Afawubo.
Elected and sworn in executives include, Noble Yasroku-Atadi (President), Agbo Narh (Vice President), Jerry John Kotoka (General Secretary), Dr Felix Nyarko (Dep. General Secretary), Charles Kwame Mapok (Financial Secretary) and frank Kottey (Organizer).
The rest, Attipoe Wright Evans (Dep Organizer), Seyram Quarshie (Diaspora Rep), Frank Akudeka (Alumni Rep on Campus-Staff), Kingsley Attitsogbui (Welfare Officer) and Prosper k. Diaba (PRO) are eligible for re-election.
While the SRC President George Ametor appealed to the Alumni to donate in aid of the continuance of the Canteen project, the CBC leader, Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey called on the Alumni to aid in purchasing equipment to enhance reportage on campus.
It was a massive congress which saw many alumni return to deliberate on making EPUC great and a force to reckon with.
