A Senior Lecturer at the African University College of Communications, (AUCC), Samuel Ato Afful has challenged tertiary students offering various disciplines in Communication Studies to serve as advocates in promoting the rights of the poor and disadvantaged in society.
Mr. Afful who doubles as the Patron for the Canadian based NGO, Journalists for Human Rights, JHR-AUCC Chapter, observed that advancing the cause of the vulnerable and those in dire need of justice will help address the global call for change and social inclusiveness.
He however, encouraged media practitioners and those aspiring to be experts in the field of communication to be the voice for the voiceless whilst contributing to the global campaign against discrimination among other forms of human right abuses in society.
Mr. Afful made the clarion call at a brief handing over ceremony held at AUCC in Accra to usher in new executives to steer the affairs of JHR for the next academic year.
Whilst acknowledging the tireless effort of the outgoing executives, Mr. Afful was hopeful that with the level of confidence and enthusiasm exhibited by the new crop of executives, the prospects of the club looks promising.
He emphasised on teamwork and dedication to duty, stressing that the mission of the club which is to educate the masses on human rights and bringing to light issues of abuses will be a mirage, if they work in isolation.
He further entreated them to play their watchdog roles effectively and more importantly establish linkages with sister groups to actualise its vision of an informed and respectful society free from abuses.
Various speakers paid glowing tribute to the patron and past executives for making the club what it is today despite the daunting challenges.
For his part, the President of the Students Representative Council of AUCC, Samuel Darfour, touched on the need for the executives to refrain from actions that will defeat the purpose for which the club was established but rather work as a united front to gain the requisite recognition and respect from both management and students.
He said JHR will be a force to reckon with if issues of human rights brought before it are pursued to the latter.
Addressing the gathering aftermath the oath of allegiance administered by the Patron, the President for JHR AUCC-Chapter, Mynna Maame Araba Bentil, promised an open door policy and charged her executives to be ambassadors of human rights not only in Ghana but wherever they find themselves.
She anticipated a challenging moment but was equally optimistic that with true commitment and oneness, she was poised to having a successful tenure devoid of acts that could undermine the integrity of the club.
Present to grace the occasion were outgoing executives of the SRC as well as representatives from the IPR and the GJA AUCC-Chapter among others.
For the records, JHR has an objective to engage the next generation of Ghanaian young leaders and journalists in domestic and international human rights issues.
JHR believes that the media is the most effective tool for human right education, and as such focuses its activities on media related projects.
The success story of JHR-AUCC Chapter is based on the foundation of the fight against human right abuses in the country.
The chapter is the first club to be established in Ghana since the inception of JHR in 2003.
Story by Radio Ghana’s Isaac Asare
