Master Frank Blay, a Ghanaian student at the University of Aberdeen reading M.Sc. International Relations and International Law, has become the first African and the second person of colour to be elected as the Vice-Chair of the Student Council.
The Election
This year’s Student Council elections (usually comprises a voting period of 3 days) took place between 9 am, 12th October to 5 pm, 14th October; it was a keen contest between two students, Mr. Frank Blay; a Ghanaian scholar and former KNUST Students’ Parliament Speaker and one other international student, Shwetal Funde.
The election results were declared on 15th October, and amazingly, Mr. Frank Blay defied all odds to emerge the winner. His name has gone into the history books of the University as the first Ghanaian and African ever to occupy that office, a big win for the Motherland!
About The Student Council and Aberdeen University Students Association (AUSA)
University of Aberdeen Student Council is a democratically-elected body of students in the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom. The Council consists of elected students who volunteer their time to raise, discuss and pass campaigns and motions to shape the association’s work for the year ahead.
Members of the Student Council help drive forward the student body’s priorities by representing fellow students’ views.
The Students’ Representative Council, Union Management Committee, and Athletic Association merged to become one association known as Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA).
The Student Council, which is the leading law-making body for the Aberdeen University Students Association, has been in existence since the establishment of the University.
AUSA is a growing and vibrant Students’ Association comprised of five student officers and eight voluntary members.
Its vision is to be an organization that engages students to have a voice, fulfil their potential and get the most out of their university experience. Its mission is to support, empower and represent the ordinary students of the University at all levels.
The elected Chair of Council and the Vice-Chair regulates the discussion and ensures that everyone gets a fair chance to speak and is being respected at Council Meetings. They also compile the agenda and the reading documents before each Council meeting.
About University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen is a public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is an ancient university founded in 1495 when William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland, petitioned Pope Alexander VI on behalf of James IV, King of Scots, to establish King’s College Scotland’s third-oldest university and the fifth-oldest in the English-speaking world. Aberdeen is consistently ranked among the top 200 universities in the world.
According to The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times, it is ranked within the top 20 universities in the United Kingdom. The University is also the 33rd oldest University in the world.
Appreciations
Chairman Blay, on his Facebook page, expressed his appreciations to Hon. Akosua Frema Osei Opare, the Chief of Staff of the Republic of Ghana, Mrs. Harriet Kyeremateng (Dep. Director, Political Affairs to Chief of Staff), Mr. Kingsley Agyamang (Registrar, Ghana Scholarship Secretariat) and Mr. Frank Asiedu Bekoe, Director of Political Affairs at the Office of the President, Jubilee House for their support, generosity, advice wise counsel and motivations.
Mr. Blay also thanked the Ghanaian community in the UK, most especially Ghanaian students in Aberdeen, for their tremendous support and immense love during and after his elections.
Good to see. All the best bro. You are making Ghana and Jomoro proud