The newly-elected National and Sectoral Executive Members of the Distance Learning Students Association of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (DLSA-KNUST) have been sworn into office at an official ceremony held on 22nd October, 2022 at the Amonoo-Neizer/IDL Conference Centre – KNUST, Kumasi. This follows a successful election conducted on 23rd August, 2022, supervised by the Electoral Commission of DLSA-KNUST and the Directorate of Students Affairs.

In his farewell address, Mr. Emmanuel Osei Boateng, outgoing President of the Association, appreciated his executive and the entire Association for the support he enjoyed during his tenure as the maiden President of the Association. He said many projects and programmes were embarked upon to help re-brand the Association. This included the association's social media presence, printing and distributing souvenirs to members of the Association, setting up a health insurance scheme for members, donating laptops to the Vice-Chancellor’s SENSOL project, and lobbying for IDL students to pay their fees in instalments.

He highly commended the Management of the Institute for their support of the needs of the Association. He mentioned the new structures being worked on by the Management of the Institute in Accra to help create more space for the ever-increasing student population in the Southern Zone of the Institute. He hoped that the incoming executive members would build upon what has been achieved and many others stipulated in the Strategic Plan of the Association.

In his remarks on behalf of the Director of the Institute, Mr. Owusu Ansah Debrah, Institute Registrar said that as the University continues to expand in all its frontiers, there is always the need to evolve structures and systems, aimed at bettering the resolve of the University to become more student-centred. He added that considering the ever-increasing number of students who pursue higher education on the distance learning platform, there came a time for an association to champion the peculiar needs of distance learning students. This resulted in various consultations and moves to set up DLSA-KNUST. Mr. Debrah pledged the support and co-operation of the Management of the Institute to the newly-elected student leaders.

On the part of the President of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of KNUST, Mr. Frank Owusu, extended a hand of fellowship to DLSA-KNUST. Mr. Owusu stressed the need to build sustainable partnerships so all stakeholders could work in unison to achieve the purpose of the Association, akin to the keys of a piano.

On behalf of the Director of the Directorate of Students Affairs, Mrs Theodora Oduro, Senior Assistant Registrar, urged the new executive members to administer their affairs with a sense of maturity. She urged them to seek information on issues before going public.

In his acceptance speech on behalf of the new executive members, Mr. Victor Togoh pledged to build sustainable partnerships with stakeholders to make the Association one that listens, heals and is accountable to all members. Mr. Gideon Okyere, the Judicial Committee Chairman of DLSA-KNUST, led the newly-elected executive members to swear the oath of office and the oath of secrecy.

The new executive members are:

1. Mr. Victor Togoh – National President;  
2. Miss Lucille Osom – National General Secretary;
3. Mr. Richmond Kwaku Jobo – National Financial Secretary;
4. Miss Alice Kwarteng – National Women’s Commissioner;
5. Mr. Prince Danful Asare – Midland Vice President;  
6. Mr. Paul Amoako – Midland Financial Secretary;
7. Mr. Abubakari Illiasu – Midland General Secretary;
8. Miss Boatemaa Boakye Ansah – Midland Women’s Commissioner;
9. Mr. Desmond Boateng– Southern Sector Vice President; 
10. Miss Annabel Nartey – Southern Sector General Secretary;
11. Mr. Derrick Blankson – Southern Sector Financial Sectary;
12. Miss Charity Azubayam Abaati – Southern Sector Women’s Commissioner;
13. Miss Harriet Asare Bediakoh – Western Sector Vice President;
14. Mr. Theophilus Francis Quayson – Western Sector General Secretary; and
15. Mr. Bernard Boabeng Blay – Western Sector Financial Secretary

The Executive Officers are to steer the affairs of the Association for the 2022/2023 academic year.

Citations were presented to some personalities, including the Vice-Chancellor, the Director of IDL and the outgoing student leaders. Present at the ceremony were Mr. Owusu Ansah Debrah – Institute Registrar, Mr. Abraham Adusei – Assistant Registrar, Mrs. Theodora Oduro – Senior Assistant Registrar, Mr. Wofa Yaw Adu Gyamfi – GRASAG President, Mr. Frank Owusu – SRC President and some founding members of DLSA-KNUST.