Make TESCON NPP’s intellectual powerhouse — Asenso-Boakye
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) student wing must evolve into a centre for policy thinking and leadership training if it is to make a lasting contribution to the party and Ghana’s development, the founding President of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON), Francis Asenso-Boakye, has said.
He urged the organisation’s newly appointed national executives to harness the intellectual resources of tertiary institutions to generate ideas, scrutinise national policies and help shape the NPP’s response to the country’s development challenges.
Mr Asenso-Boakye, the Member of Parliament for Bantama, made the call when a delegation led by the NPP National Youth Organiser, Abanga Fuseni, paid a visit to introduce his two deputies and the new national TESCON leadership.
He said TESCON should not limit its work to mobilising students for party activities on campuses but should also provide a platform for rigorous debate, research and the development of practical policy proposals.
Having helped establish the organisation about 26 years ago, Mr Asenso-Boakye said its founding vision included preparing young people to assume leadership roles through intellectual development and responsible political engagement.
He challenged the new executives to revive that ambition by creating opportunities for students to examine pressing national issues and contribute informed solutions.
From campus politics to policy influence
Mr Asenso-Boakye said universities and other tertiary institutions had a wealth of knowledge and expertise that the party could draw on to improve its policies and respond to emerging national concerns.
He urged TESCON to organise research initiatives, policy forums, debates and intellectual exchanges on subjects such as education, employment, entrepreneurship, economic management and national development.
Such activities, he said, would help students develop the analytical skills required for public service while giving the NPP access to fresh perspectives on issues affecting Ghanaians.
He also called on the organisation to serve as a link between students and the party’s leadership by communicating the concerns, expectations and aspirations of young people.
He said political organisations needed honest feedback and constructive criticism, supported by evidence, to remain responsive and effective.
A record of producing leaders
Reflecting on TESCON’s contribution to the NPP and public life, Mr Asenso-Boakye pointed to former members who had risen to prominent positions in the party, Parliament and government.
Among those he cited were the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, and the party’s Second Vice Chairman, Henry Nana Boakye.
He also named himself and other TESCON alumni in Parliament, including Kwame Appiah-Koduah, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Stephen Amoah, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Charles Owiredu, Gideon Boako, Nana Asafo-Adjei, Nana Agyei Barfour Awuah, Frank Asiedu Bekoe and Sammi Awuku.
Mr Asenso-Boakye further referred to former ministers, including Isaac Kwame Asiamah, as well as chief executives and other public officials who had passed through the organisation.
He said the emergence of these figures demonstrated TESCON’s potential to identify and nurture political talent, adding that the new leadership had a responsibility to sustain that tradition.
He encouraged the executives to invest in structured leadership development programmes that would prepare students not only for party positions but also for wider responsibilities in public service.
Academic work and integrity
Mr Asenso-Boakye cautioned the new executives against allowing political activities to undermine their education, urging them to give equal attention to their academic performance, personal integrity and professional development.
He said a strong student political organisation should produce individuals equipped with knowledge, discipline and sound judgement to contribute meaningfully to national affairs.
He also pledged to provide mentorship and guidance to the new leadership as it worked to strengthen TESCON’s programmes and influence within the NPP.
His message places renewed emphasis on the role of student political organisations in developing policy ideas and preparing future leaders, beyond their traditional function of mobilising support for political parties on campuses.
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