The Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS)has conferred onthe Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Gas Company, Dr Benjamin K.D. Asante, as its National Patron.
Dr Asante was formally introduced at a three-day national forum of GUPS held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra(UPSA).
It was attended by about 300 professional students from the 16 regions of the country under the theme: “Achieving the Ghana beyond aid agenda: The role of professional students with a renewed mindset”.
The conferment of the title on Dr Asante, according to a citation by GUPS, is in recognition of his “sterling professional services and sacrifices to industry, specifically the oil and gas industry”.
“We are glad to have such wealth of experience with a rich blend of professionalism in a personality of your calibre as our Patron,” the citation further reads.
Introducing the new national patron to the professional students, the Director of the Centre for International Education and Collaboration (CIEC) at UPSA, Professor Abigail Opoku Mensah, congratulated Dr Asante on the honour done him.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Asante promised to use his office and expertise as a renowned oil and gas engineer to help build GUPS’‘New Brand Agenda’.
He said it was time to train young professionals to assume key positions, especially in the oil and gas sector, to help achieve the ‘Ghana Beyong Aid’ dream.
Profile of Dr Asante
With more than 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Dr Asante served as the technical Director of Ghana’s first gas infrastructure project and also developed the gas infrastructure masterplan for Ghana in 2008.
He also served as a consultant to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and also provided engineering services, project management and technical support for various projects in many countries across the world, including United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Russia, Thailand and United States of America.
Dr Asante is a product of MfantsipimSchool and holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), MSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary (Canada), and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, London (United Kingdom).
GUPS orientation & training
The three-day GUPS forum was organized, in collaboration with the Ghana Beyond Aid Secretariat.
Experts in various fields of industry took turns to coach the participants on what is expected of them when they enter industry after school.
They included the Technical Advisor (Strategy and Research)at the Ministry of Finance, NyarkoAsiamah, who is also a member of the Ghana Beyond Aid Board; the Director-General of the National Lottery Authority,MrsAkosua Manu; the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Sammy Awuku, and the Managing Director of Accra Digital Centre, Kofi Nkansah.
The President of GUPS, Stephen KwesiAcquah,challenged professional students to change their mindset and adopt positive work ethos in order to help achieve the ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ agenda.
