Archived Bulletins

THE CLUB

By Regina Agyare
First-Year Student

"If there is anything you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now."
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I believe words have a way of touching the inner core of your being and igniting thoughts into actions. These words seemed to motivate Mr. Patrick Awuah to pursue the dream of Ashesi. As the founder of The Club, I was also moved by these words and decided - against all odds - to start a social club at Ashesi. The idea of The Club was born during a conversation between two students. To put the idea into motion we made a general invitation to our fellow students to help decide what The Club should be about. This process facilitated a free flow of ideas and gave every student a share in the formation of The Club and hence, a share in making The Club work.

Well into the month of April, The Club was brought into being. With the help of the Dean of Student Affairs, an election was held and the following Executive Body was formed.

The Club chose as its logo the symbol of funtunfunefu-denkyemfunefu, or "Siamese crocodiles", which symbolizes democracy and unity. (See symbol above.) The Siamese crocodiles share one stomach, yet they fight over food. This popular symbol is a reminder that infighting and tribalism is harmful to all whom engage in it. With this logo, The Club seeks to form a greater unity among students in the spirit of fun and solidarity.

With the elections complete, The Club's activities went into full swing. Its first activity was to participate in the Joy Soup Kitchen, sponsored by popular radio station JOYFM. Students helped to feed homeless children and adults of Accra on Easter Sunday. On another occasion, The Club's executives were invited to and participated in a meeting with members of the student government of Central University College, also in Accra. Throughout the first academic term, The Club initiated table tennis and basketball games and hosted Friday film festivals.

The Club has gotten off to a strong start during Ashesi's first term. But its members are not content to sit on their laurels. Plans are underway to draft a formal constitution, which will serve as its guide in the conducting of all meetings and activities, payment of dues and election and duties of officers. Members will also form and participate in various committees to further promote, coordinate and implement more activities, including participation in the planning of a formal inauguration of Ashesi.

The Club also intends to form linkages with the student governments of other colleges and universities within and hopefully outside of Ghana.

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