Mr. Caleb Otabil who is a post graduate student reading Master of Philosophy in Clinical Health Psychology has been sworn into office as the new speaker of the 17th UCC Student’s Parliamentary Council on Saturday, 5th October 2019.
Rt Hon. Caleb Otabil, who holds a Second Class Honours (Uppers Division) in Medical Laboratory Science has served the parliamentary council from the 2016/2017 academic year, first as a member of the Debate team for commonwealth day debate- aiding the team to secure a silver in the Commonwealth Day Inter-parliamentary Debate Competition. He later served as the Public Relations Officer of the House where he helped the House secure a first place win in the Commonwealth Day debate.
In the 15th parliament, Mr. Caleb Otabil served as the First Deputy speaker of the House and also spearheaded many activities with the Privileges and Appointment committees of parliament under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Awosika Awotunde. He again served as the SRC Rep to the University Bookshop Committee under the 2017/2018 SRC. In 2018, he again led the House to win the Second Consecutive Gold in the Commonwealth Day Debate Championship.
Rt. Hon. Otabil has served as the Majority leader of the Central Regional Youth Parliament and is the Director of Research at the Poimen Ghana, a youth-focused NGO.
He has led the UCC debate team to win impact Africa Debate Championship. He has also been a part of countless international, national and internal (UCC) debate championships.
In his acceptance speech, the newly sworn-in speaker for the Parliamentary Council indicated that he hopes to see promulgation of a new SRC constitution, saying “the SRC constitution, 2009/2010 as we operate with, the constitution has long since been critiqued, it needs reformation and to be amended in line with the changing needs of students of this university”.
He also noted that the House had made strides in Women participation, commending the increased number of Women MPs in the Students’ Parliament and citing the example of Hon Felicity Sena Dogbatse, the new First Deputy Speaker and Madman Aku Esenam Grace, the new Marshall as shining examples of competent hands the House has been graced with.
Present at the occasion were the SRC President H. E. Abdul Hamid Zaki, the Local NUGS President H.E. Adam Achire , Judicial Board, the SRC Hall President, Speaker of Parliaments of the SRC Hall and Atlantic Hall, Rt Hon Awotunde Awosika and many other distinguished student leaders.
Jeffrey Koomson | choicism.com
