The leadership of the Junior Common Room (JCR) of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has made a cash donation of ten thousand cedis towards the Vice-Chancellor Endowment Fund (VCEF), a scholarship scheme that supports brilliant but indigent students.
Speaking at a brief meeting on Friday between the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abednego F. O. Amartey and JCR Presidents of the various halls of residence, the Chairman of the UPSA JCR, Kingsley Kofi Yeboah, explained that the gesture was to support the University’s effort in bridging the educational gap between the rich and the poor.
Recounting how some of his colleagues drop out of school due to financial challenges, he said: “We acknowledge that our little contribution to the VCEF today will go a long way to offer financial support to some of our brothers and sisters who are financially challenged.”
The JCR executives also donated some 350 dustbins, 50 fluorescent bulbs, hand sanitisers and 18 buckets of paints to the University’s main hostel.
The group has also procured and installed a 55-inch Plasma Television in the JCR TV Room for the entertainment of students.
Responding to the kind gesture, the Vice-Chancellor commended the JCR leadership for “a responsible act by responsible students.”
He emphasised that as a Management that believes in community living as an essential part of student life, his doors were always open to the students especially when it comes to issues affecting their safety, academic work and social integration.
Prof Okoe Amartey further urged students to enrich their UPSA experience by exploring all resources and facilities at their disposal while taking advantage of the innumerable opportunities offered by the University.
The two leaders also used the occasion to discuss pertinent issues affecting resident students. Among some of the issues deliberated upon included security at the two main students’ hostels, professional conduct of some hostel facility managers and office space for JCR executives.
Present at the meeting was the Registrar of the University, Dr Koryoe Anim-Wright, with the JCR delegation comprising Kingsley Kofi Yeboah (JCR Chairman), Ernest Nyann, president of Yaa Asantewaa Hall; Harry Selassie Opoku, Liberty Hall president; and Daniel Danquah, president of Opoku Ampomah Hall.
The rest were Reuben Dasi, John Mwiniasaa Nounyah and Nana Kwame Lartey, all financial controllers of the Opoku Ampomah, Mandela and Yaa Asantewaa halls respectively.