Ferdinard Blankson, Samuel Yeboah elected GRASAG-UG President and Vice President

Ferdinard Fosu-Blankson and Samuel Yeboah have been elected President and Vice President respectively of the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana–University of Ghana (GRASAG-UG).

The Ferdinard-Samuel ticket secured 89.3% of the “Yes” votes in the 2026 GRASAG-UG elections held on Monday, September 28, 2026.

The newly elected leaders have outlined a number of initiatives focusing on academic support, student welfare, accommodation, communication and representation.

In their manifesto, titled A New Chapter for GRASAG-UG, they said improvements in the University of Ghana’s research output and global standing should be matched by improvements in the experience of graduate students.

“A university's greatness is not only written in its research output. It is written, too, in the quality of life of the students who produce that research,” the manifesto stated.

Academic support

The new administration plans to introduce an Academic Research Training Week in every faculty to help graduate students strengthen their research skills.

It also intends to establish regular Research and Thesis Support Clinics to assist students with research proposals, dissertations and stalled thesis chapters.

The leadership has further pledged to advocate for improvements in graduate learning facilities, including broken chairs, faulty lighting and inadequate washroom facilities.

It also plans to work with the School of Graduate Studies and the Academic Board to revitalise the Thesis Tracker System and make it more useful to graduate students.

Welfare and accommodation

The administration has pledged to advocate for stronger graduate student representation on the Residency Board, particularly on decisions concerning accommodation.

It also plans to push for dedicated attention to graduate students at the University Clinic, as well as organise regular health walks and biannual health screenings.

An International Students’ Committee is also expected to be established to address the academic, accommodation and leadership concerns of international graduate students.

Communication

The new leadership has promised to improve communication between GRASAG-UG and graduate students through email, WhatsApp and a live chat facility on the association’s website.

It also plans to establish a GRASAG-UG Alumni Project to reconnect current graduate students with former students for mentorship and professional opportunities.

A Personal Branding and Business Communication Programme is another initiative outlined in the manifesto to help graduate students improve their professional communication skills.

The administration also intends to use campus radio to increase awareness of GRASAG-UG activities.

Support for graduate mothers

The welfare agenda also includes support for graduate mothers.

The administration has proposed providing nursing care for the children of graduate mothers while they are on campus.

The manifesto said graduate mothers should not have to choose between their academic pursuits and caring for their children, describing them as students who carry “both books and children on their shoulders.”

The Ferdinard-Samuel administration is expected to work with graduate students and university authorities to implement the proposed initiatives during its tenure.

“The moment for a new GRASAG-UG is now,” the candidates declared in their manifesto.