The newly inaugurated leadership of the All-African Students Union (AASU) has appealed for increased government investment to support the growth and welfare of African students, as it begins a new term in office.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the Union’s new executives, AASU President Enyinnaya Osisiogu commended governments across the continent, particularly Ghana, for their support over the years, but said more needs to be done to strengthen student representation and development.

“The organisation wants to grow, and we don’t want to continue to add pressure on the fiscal space of the Republic of Ghana,” he said.

“Although, like Oliver Twist, we will always ask for more, we know that the government is doing so much.”

Mr Osisiogu added that the Union remains grateful to Ghana for hosting and supporting its activities, and appealed to the government to sustain its commitment to the organisation.

“We want the government led by President John Mahama to continue to bear with us and sustain this union,” he stated.

He said the Union demonstrated its appreciation by presenting a gratitude award to the people and government of Ghana at the ceremony.

The event marked the inauguration of a new leadership team that has pledged to take students’ concerns directly to policymakers and ensure stronger representation across Africa.

Earlier, the Union said it will work to close the long-standing gap between students and decision-makers, as education policies are often implemented without adequate consultation.

With the new leadership in place, AASU says it is focused on building a stronger, more effective, and financially sustainable organisation that can better advocate for students’ interests on the continent.

The Union is expected to roll out advocacy programmes and stakeholder engagements in the coming months to deepen collaboration with governments, education authorities, and development partners.