Management of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has drafted student leaders from all levels, who were then not on campus, into its university-wide Covid-19 taskforce.

The student leaders are to be empowered to serve as ambassadors with Management to ensure strict compliance with the Covid-19 safety protocols as a way of keeping the community safe. The University explains, this is also to enable it to take the input and concerns of students on the Management of the COVID-19 pandemic on campus.

According to the Management of the University, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is a herculean task, which must involve all hands-on deck. The involvement of the students in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is a concern for all Ghanaians, therefore, is the most effective way to ensuring that students follow thoroughly the Covid-19 safety protocols to stop the spread.

Speaking at the launch, the Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni, stressed the student leaders were being called upon to be part of the decision-making process, implementors and ambassadors of the Covid-19 safety protocols.

“As a public university, we are under strict obligation to follow through whatever directives or safety protocols that have been laid down to stop the spread of COVID-19 or risk losing our precious students and staff to the pandemic.”

“Also, we  even risk the closure of the University and the consequent disruption of the academic calendar. This is a task that can’t be executed by Management or staff alone”, he said.

Prof. Afful-Broni pointed out that communities are guided by leaders who take critical decisions and actions with or on behalf of their followers towards achieving collective goals.

He explained, all members at the forum formed the leadership from various segments of the University community, and in the circumstance, the involvement of student leaders is simply a question of asking them to do what is required of them as leaders.

“We want to raise awareness of the Covid-19 safety protocols to a new level. We believe that at the end of this launch, you’ll understand that the burden and responsibility, is on all of us to ensure that we’re able to follow through with our people, all the COVID-19 safety protocols.  We envisage there’ll be no point we’d have to ask students to go home,” the Vice-Chancellor stressed.

He was convinced should the university watch out for each other and take leadership onto their hands, they could see through the semester safely and smoothly up to the end.

Prof. Afful-Broni, warned that he would not hesitate to trigger the appropriate processes for sanctions to be meted out to those found at the wrong side of the regulations if it would keep the University safe in carrying out its mandate.

As part of this initiative, Class Representatives will be supplied with sanitizers and thermometer guns in addition to existing structures to ensure that their colleagues follow the safety protocols in the classroom settings. All other student leaders would be in special taskforce tags empowered with the necessary logistics to help them advocate and ensure the enforcement of the Covid-19 safety protocols.

The taskforce is made up of the University Management, Deans, Directors, Heads of Department, all security personnel and student leaders drawn from all levels.