Omanghana
Jude Michelle Korleh Nortey, the newly elected Students’ Representative Council President of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, has pledged to address major welfare challenges affecting students.
Her administration will prioritize access to affordable data, hostel accommodation, campus transportation and security when it assumes office for the 2026/27 academic year.
Michelle said the growing dependence on digital platforms for lectures, research, assignments and communication had made reliable internet access an essential academic resource.
She plans to engage relevant stakeholders to improve Wi-Fi connectivity across the university and secure affordable data packages for students.
Hostel accommodation will also be a major focus of her administration. The rising student population and limited residential facilities have forced many students to depend on private hostels in communities surrounding the university.
Students have repeatedly complained about increasing rents, limited rooms and other difficulties associated with securing suitable accommodation near campus.
The incoming SRC leadership is expected to engage university management, private hostel operators and other stakeholders to explore ways of reducing the pressure on students.
Michelle also pledged to improve transportation within and around the university. Her administration intends to advocate for more reliable and efficient shuttle services, particularly for students who live outside the main campus or regularly travel between distant colleges and lecture facilities.
Security is another major concern, especially for students living in surrounding communities such as Ayeduase and Kotei.
The president-elect has promised to push for stronger security patrols, improved street lighting and closer cooperation between the university’s security department, the police and student communities.
Michelle secured a decisive victory in the August 2026 SRC election, polling 10,435 votes, representing 56.71 per cent of all valid ballots cast.
She defeated seven other presidential candidates in the highly competitive race. Her closest challenger, Obeng Kelvin Fosu, finished more than 6,000 votes behind her.
Michelle contested alongside vice-president-elect Nana Kwame Oppong Antwi of the College of Engineering.
Her victory makes her the 66th SRC President of KNUST and only the second woman elected to the university’s highest student leadership position.
She follows Yvonne Osei Adobea, who became the first woman to win the KNUST SRC presidency when she was elected as the 63rd president in 2023.
The result has been widely regarded as a significant moment for women’s participation in student leadership at the university.
As Michelle prepares to assume office, students will be looking to her administration to translate its campaign promises into practical improvements.
Her tenure is expected to be assessed largely on its ability to secure measurable progress in internet access, accommodation, transportation and student safety.
Source: Omanghana
