The newly inaugurated leadership of the All-African Students Union has pledged to ensure that African students play a central role in shaping education policies and programmes across the continent.

According to the Union’s Secretary-General, Divine Edem Kwadzodeh, students have for years been sidelined in major decisions that directly affect their welfare and academic development.

“Nothing for African students should ever be done without their input,” he said in an interview with JoyNews.

“Oftentimes, education policies, programmes and projects are implemented without the involvement of students, who are the major beneficiaries.”

Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony of the new executives, Mr Kwadzodeh said the incoming administration has made student participation its top priority.

He explained that the leadership will work to ensure students are placed at the centre of policy discussions at both national and continental levels.

“Our flagship priority is to make sure students are always considered in everything that is done for them. Their voices must be represented, and their views treated as critical inputs,” he added.

The event marked the beginning of a new leadership term for the Union, which serves as a continental platform representing students from universities and tertiary institutions across Africa.

Over the years, student leaders have raised concerns about limited consultation in education reforms, funding policies, and institutional governance, particularly in countries implementing major higher education reforms, including Ghana.