SWEARING-IN ACCEPTANCE SPEECH MISS CHRISTIANA ADU (president)

The Chairperson, Hon. Senators and Observers, Outgoing Executives, Invited Guests, ladies, and gentlemen;

It is with great pride, honour, and a sense of duty that I accept the mantle of GRASAG Presidency for the premier University of Ghana. I would like to congratulate the outgoing Ag. President Mr. Adofo Yaw Kwakye and his team for their commendable efforts, dedication, and commitment in ensuring that graduate students of the University of Ghana were able to navigate the past year successfully, despite the unprecedented challenges that COVID-19 presented us. Well done and Ayekoo!
Mr. Chairman, I receive this mantle and baton in the symbolism of a new journey ahead; a race to meet the expectations of the various stakeholders of this office, especially the student body who have through their overwhelming support and vote, reposed confidence in myself and other incoming executives, to steer the affairs of this noble association for the upcoming year. This is not a position that I take lightly, neither do I count the electoral victory as the end of the battle. As I mentioned and emphasised throughout my campaign, this is the dawn of a new era; an era of new ideas, new initiatives, and an open-door policy with the view to ensuring that graduate students of the University of Ghana have the best of experiences as they go about their research efforts, in the bid to contribute to knowledge, society and above all, the development of a better Ghana.

Mr. Chairman, Past administrations have implemented various policies, initiatives, and projects, and I seek not to diminish or retire these policies but to consolidate the gains and build upon them to ensure continuity, progress, and the upliftment of the image of graduate students on campus and beyond.
Mr. Chairman, Graduate students form a unique group of individuals who refuse to rest on their laurels. They take up the challenge to pursue further education in the quest to develop innovations that can transform society. As challenging as this endeavour is, it is our duty as executives to ensure there is some respite to Graduate Students and we shall not renege on our duty. With the support of my team, we shall ensure the timely receipt of students' ID Cards. Souvenirs which are the entitlement of every Graduate Student in good standing will be effectively distributed. A Series of engagements will be initiated to ensure the timely examination of the thesis submitted by Graduate Students. Lessons have been learnt from the undue delay in the 2020/2021 bursary payments. Such delays should not be expected in the next year's disbursement as we are poised to ensure payments for the 2021/2022 academic year bursary are timely.

Mr. Chairman, The new era that beckons is one of engagement and involvement; along with my team, we shall dialogue with graduate students on all the campuses; Legon, Atomic, and Korle-Bu in pursuit of the interest of GRASAG-LEGON. This is the only way that the change we seek can be brought about and every graduate student of this premier university has a unique role to play. As a leader, I do not pride myself to be a repository of knowledge and all ideas; I am merely a servant appointed to represent the larger graduate student body and channel their ideas into tangible reality. This is the task I have accepted, and this is the journey that awaits my team and me.

On a day like this, many words can be spoken, but I pride myself in being a woman of action and not mere words. As such, I would like to end here and take the opportunity to congratulate again
our new Vice-Chancellor on her trailblazing feat. I promise to work with her in lifting high the flag of the University of Ghana, the nation's pride. Thank you all for your audience and for the support and confidence you have placed in me. I will not let you down.
Thank you for the opportunity given Mr, Chairman, and may God Bless GRASAG-LEGON, May God bless the University of Ghana and May God bless our Motherland Ghana.
Thank you