{
  "id": 16817899,
  "title": "Make TESCON NPP’s intellectual powerhouse — Asenso-Boakye",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/make-tescon-npps-intellectual-powerhouse-asenso-boakye",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-27T23:32:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/make-tescon-npps-intellectual-powerhouse-asenso-boakye/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The New Patriotic Party's (NPP) student organization, TESCON, must transform into a hub for policy thinking and leadership development to make a meaningful impact on the party and Ghana's progress, declared its founding President, Francis Asenso-Boakye. During a meeting with the party's National Youth Organiser, Abanga Fuseni, Asenso-Boakye urged the newly appointed national executives to leverage the intellectual assets of universities to generate ideas, critique national policies, and shape the NPP's approach to Ghana's development challenges.\n\nAsenso-Boakye, a Member of Parliament for Bantama, emphasized that TESCON should not merely mobilize students for party activities on campuses but should also serve as a platform for rigorous debate, research, and the creation of practical policy proposals. He reminded the founders of TESCON about its vision to prepare young people for leadership roles through intellectual growth and responsible political engagement. He challenged the new executives to revive this vision by providing opportunities for students to examine pressing national issues and offer informed solutions.\n\nAcknowledging universities and other tertiary institutions as reservoirs of knowledge and expertise, Asenso-Boakye urged TESCON to initiate research projects, policy forums, debates, and intellectual exchanges on topics like education, employment, entrepreneurship, economic management, and national development. He argued that such activities would equip students with analytical skills necessary for public service while providing the NPP with fresh perspectives on pressing Ghanaian concerns. He also called on the organization to act as a bridge between students and the party's leadership by conveying the aspirations and concerns of young people, stating that honest feedback and constructive criticism are essential for political organizations to remain responsive and effective.\n\nReflecting on TESCON's past contributions to the NPP and public life, Asenso-Boakye highlighted the careers of former members who held prominent positions in the party, Parliament, and government. These include NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party's Second Vice Chairman Henry Nana Boakye, and several current Members of Parliament such as 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. He also mentioned former ministers like Isaac Kwame Asiamah and other public officials who had passed through the organization, emphasizing TESCON's potential to identify and nurture political talent.\n\nAsenso-Boakye encouraged the new executives to invest in structured leadership development programs that would prepare students for both party positions and broader responsibilities in public service. He cautioned against allowing political activities to compromise academic performance, personal integrity, and professional growth. He pledged to mentor the new leadership as they worked to strengthen TESCON's role within the NPP and ensure its continued influence in shaping the party's policy direction and response to national issues.",
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}