The 24th General Secretary of the Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS), Elsie Fafa Amelordzi, has successfully organized the maiden edition of “THE DIGITAL SECRETARY,” a one-day virtual training programme designed specifically for General Secretaries of Students’ Representative Councils (SRCs) across GUPS member institutions.
Held on September 25, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., the programme focused on the theme “Leveraging Digital Tools, AI & Automation for Effective Secretariat Management.”
The initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening the administrative and technological capacities of student leaders, particularly those responsible for the day-to-day management of SRC secretariats.
The training is notable for being the first known GUPS programme specifically designed for the professional development of General Secretaries of its member institutions.
Unlike programmes that generally bring together student leaders across various portfolios, The Digital Secretary placed the spotlight specifically on SRC General Secretaries, recognizing the critical role they play in documentation, correspondence, records management, communication, meeting administration and institutional memory. The initiative therefore provided a platform for General Secretaries to acquire practical knowledge on how emerging digital technologies can be integrated into their work to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
The programme was moderated by Jeremiah Awulikie-Ayi, who guided participants through the various sessions and facilitated the flow of discussions and interactions throughout the training.
The programme brought together resource persons with expertise in technology, administration, legal operations and entrepreneurship. Among the featured facilitators were Mr. Baah Kusi, an Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Engineer, and Mr. Tomison Farinola, an Administrative and Legal Operations Specialist at OAK Chambers. Their participation provided participants with perspectives on the application of technology, artificial intelligence and digital systems to administrative and secretariat functions.
The discussions underscored the growing importance of equipping student leaders with digital competencies as student governance increasingly relies on electronic communication, digital documentation, virtual meetings, data management and automated workflows.
The successful organization of the programme further highlights the importance of continuous capacity-building within student leadership structures. By targeting General Secretaries, the programme addressed an often overlooked aspect of student governance: the professional management of the secretariat, which serves as the administrative backbone of an SRC.
The initiative also aligns with the broader need for student leaders to adapt to technological changes and responsibly incorporate artificial intelligence into their administrative functions.
The maiden edition of The Digital Secretary positions the GUPS General Secretariat as an advocate for more modern, efficient and technology-driven student administration. The success of the inaugural programme is expected to stimulate further conversations around digital transformation, professional secretariat management, AI literacy and innovation in student governance.
