Brief History of Evangelical Presbyterian Students' Union (EPSU).
Thursday, September 9, 2021
EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN STUDENTS UNION (EPSU)
BRIEF HISTORY OF EPSU
EPSU is one of the youth groups of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church –Ghana.
It was established in 1993 by Rev. C. K Kakotse, Mr. Jerry Loglo among others but was officially approved by the synod of the E.P Church in 1994 during the stewardship of Rt. Rev. Ledo- Moderator of Synod and
Rev Dzakpasu- Clerk of Synod who respectively promulgated the EPSU constitution on August 24th, 1994.
EPSU was mainly formed with the aim of checking the drift of students of the church to other churches. It was also to set up a pool of intellectuals to champion the course of students and the youth.
Inherently there was also the purpose of setting up a family that students could easily
associate with as a measure of checking the drift of students to other denominations.
EPSU has two major gatherings at the National level which are Annual National Delegates Congress and Biennial Camp meetings. Other activities held at all levels are prayer conferences, evangelism, bible studies, fungalore, excursion, fasting and prayers etc.
OBJECTIVES
There are five (5) objectives governing the establishment of the union. They are:
1. To provide a medium by which interest in Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana shall be promoted among her student youth wherever they may be.
2. To bring all Evangelical Presbyterian Students in Schools, other Institutions and Churches
together wherever they may be to make positive contributions towards the development of the Church and the enhancement of her influence among students in Ghana and beyond.
3. To inculcate in members the fear of God through effective Bible study, Prayer and Evangelism.
4. To perpetuate individual acquaintances and friendship and thereby bind the students into a united fellowship for the spiritual and social well-being of all members.
5. To check the drift of Evangelical Presbyterian Students in Schools and our Churches into other Churches and unacceptable organizations.
MEMBERSHIP
There are three categorised recognised members of the union. This constitute Ordinary, Associate
and Honorary Members.
Ordinary members shall consist of Evangelical Presbyterian Students who are enrolled in the
Secondary School, Colleges and Tertiary institutions.
Associate members shall consist of persons who are not above thirty-five (35) years of age and are
also not enrolled in any educational institution, but have once been students and are desirous to
remain so and be members of EPSU.
Honorary members shall be persons who are not students but have made substantial contributions to
the progress of EPSU in some way and have been appointed by COUNCIL to become such
members. They shall have no voting rights and cannot hold office.
ORGANISATION
ORGANOGRAM
I. Congress is the highest decision making body of the union. It is held annually where leaders from all levels congregate to review and forecast into the future. This year’s
congress is the 21st of the union which would be held at MAKOGISS from 14th to 17th August, 2014.
II. Council constitutes the national executive council which is made up of the President, 1st Vice-President (Finance and Administration), 2nd Vice-President (Programmes), General.
LOCAL UNIONS/ SHS LOCAL UNIONS LOCAL INSTITUTIONS
ZONES
DISTRICTS
EPSU TERNET
SECTORS
EPSU TERNET
DISTRICTS SECTORS
EPSU TERNET
DISTRICTS SECTORS
EPSU TERNET
COUNCIL
CONGRESS
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
(EPSU)
Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Organising Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Mother, Evangelism Coordinator, Bible Study Coordinator and Prayer Secretary.
The YPO is an Ex- officio member (the name of the current YPO is Rev Eric Gle).
Names of past presidents in a chronological manner are Mark Tutu, Fred Amevenku, Leonard Gobah, Johnson Kumitse, James Ledo and Eyram Amengor. The current President being Sebastian John Okyere.
III. Zones consists of districts with Chairpersons as the main leaders. The zones are what could be referred to as presbyteries in the structure of the church. However, the zones cut across presbyteries such that two or more presbyteries could be in a Zone. Until recently, there
were six zones of the union.
They are; Accra – Tema Zone, Kpando- Peki Zone, Kumasi
zone, Ho Zone, Hohoe Zone, Southern zone and Kadjebi- Jasikan zone. However, new
zones have been added among which are Meridian Zone, Tongu and Eastern zones.
Local unions are the unions in the various congregations which together constitute the
districts.
The second cycle institutions are managed by the zones and TerNet in a harmonious manner.
IV. TerNet stands for Tertiary Network. TerNet, which is analogous to a zone was formed in the year 2005 to coordinate the activities of all EPSU bodies on the various tertiary campuses so that the national council can actively oversee their activities. A number of
tertiary institutions constitute a sector. Currently, there are four sectors (i.e sector A, B, C and D).
CURRENT STATE OF EPSU
The union currently has four major projects in the pipe line. They are the Evangelism Fund Project, National Secretariat Project, National Database Project and EPSU Website Project.
CHALLENGES
The union however, is facing a lot of challenges when it comes to recognition in the various congregations, districts and presbyteries. Some Church Leaders and Pastors are still fighting the
EPSU concept and have in many ways made decisions that have affected the activities of the Union
negatively. Some include refusal to let them attend programs, not giving them special days to celebrate anniversaries to raise funds, though other groups are given such opportunities and others have decided to close them down and not let them operate in their congregations. Many EPSU
programmes have been sabotaged because some pastors and church leaders do not see the need.
Secondly, the youth concept being championed by some pastors to sort of defunct EPSU is also
preventing our existence.
We therefore wish to plead to our Pastors, catechist and church sessions to accept and support our
activities for we are all working for the spiritual development of the church.
PAST NATIONAL EXECUTIVES
1995 - 1998
Prez: Mark Tutu
1st Vice Prez: Joyce Amegatse (Mrs.Gonyuie)
2nd Vice: Prez Dickson Tse
Gen. Sec: Prince Agbelengor
Asst Sec: Victoria Goka
Fin Sec: FabianAnagbonu
Treasurer: Joyce E Aklasi
Organizer: Eric Bobi
Mother: Florence Agbleze 1998 - 2000.
Prez: Fred Amevenku
1st Vice Prez: LenuciaAdzadze (Mrs.Ahlidza)
2nd Vice Prez: Dickson Tse
Gen. Sec: Rich Nyarko
Asst Sec: Marrygold Tetevi (Mrs)
Fin. Sec: Kenneth Fiati
Treasurer: EmefaAgboklu
Organizer: Ben Quashie
Mother: Stella Asese
2000 - 2002 2002 - 2004
Prez: Fred Amevenku, Leonard Gobah.
1st Vice: Lenucia Adzadzi, Mawufemor Adukpo.
2nd Vice: Leonard Gobah, Frank Afllu
Gen Sec: Aseye Tawiah, Aseye Tawiah.
Asst Sec: Raymond Atadze, Raymond Atadze
Fin Sec: Kenneth Fiati, Shine Goku
Treasurer: Felix Nyarku, Rosemary Nyarko.
Organizer: Ben Quashie, Moses Koevi.
Mother: Gifty Gbe, Ann Gedzeve.
2002 - 2004
President: Leonard Gobah
1st Vice: Mawufemor Adukpo
2nd Vice: Frank Aflu
Gen. Secretary: Aseye Tawiah
Asst. Gen. Sec: Raymond Atadze
Financial Secretary: Shine Goku
Treasurer: Rosemary Nyarko
Organiser: Moses Koevi
Mother: Ann Gedzeve
2004 - 2006
President: Johnson Kumitse
1st Vice: Mawufemor Adukpo
2nd Vice: Samuel Mortey
Gen. Secretary: Setri Dzivenu
Asst. Gen. Sec: EyramFiagbedzi
Financial Secretary: Shine Goku
Treasurer: Rosemary Nyarko
Organiser: Moses Koevi
Mother: Eunice Asase
2006 - 2008, 2008 - 2010,
2010 2012
Prez: Johnson Kumitse, James Ledo, James Ledo.
1st Vice: Yayra Amedzro, Enyonam Adorsu, Enyonam Adorsu
2nd Vice: Samuel Mortey, Eric Drafor, Elorm H Dorgbadzi.
Gen Sec: Eyram Fiagbedzi, Eyram Amengor, Rich Barku.
Asst Sec: Eyram Amengor, Rich Barku, Gifty Dansoa.
Fin. Sec: Fred Gle, Dela Amegbe, Kingsley Doga.
Treasurer: Juliet Vorsah-Afedo, Tina Nkornu, Tina Nkornu.
Organizer: Dela Amegbe, Elvice Bakudie, Patricia Letsa.
Mother: Stella Mahu, Rose Kpekata, Rose Kpekata.
Prayer Sec: Nelson Tam, Nelson Tam.
Evangelism Sec: Kafui Agyeman, Kafui Agyeman.
2012-2014
Prez.: Eyram Amengor, Sebastian John Okyere
1st Vice: GiftyDansoa, Perfect Kubiti (Mrs.)
2nd Vice: Elorm Dorgbadzi, Mawuli Amediku.
Gen Sec MawuliAmediku Elvis Bakudie
Asst Sec: Jerry C Deku, Jerry Carl Deku.
Fin Sec: Wisdom Dzilewosi, Wisdom Dzilewosi.
Treasurer: Letsa Patricia, Jacob Amengor.
Organizer: Lawrence Awuku-Oduro, Lawrence Awuku-Oduro.
Mother: Perfect Kubiti (Mrs.), Vida Akpa.
Prayer Sec: Elorm Anyormi, Ernest Peter Dela.
Evangelism Sec: Obed Forfoe, Obed Forfoe.
2013-2014 2014 - 2016
Bible Study Co: Percival Agordoh, Percival Agordoh.
GENERAL YOUTH SECRETARY
1958 to 1986: Rev Ian Sprachan
1986 to 1991: Rev F.F.K Abotchie
1991 to 1997: Rev. C. F. K Kakotse
YOUTH PROGRAMME OFFICERS
1997 to 1999: Rev. C. F. K Kakotse
1999 to 2000: Rev A.R.S Kuma
2000 to 2007: Rev. R.K Nimo
2007 to 2015: Rev. VK Dagadu
2014 Rev. Kudoyo (Ag) (Rev. VK Dagadu left for further studies)
2015 Rev. E. K Gle (Ag)
2015 to date Rev. E. K Gle.
CONGRESSES AND CAMP MEETINGS, CONGRESS CAMP
s/n Year Venue Remarks Venue Remarks
1. 1993 Kpando
2. 1994 Tema
3. 1995 Hohoe
4. 1996
5. 1997 Aburi
6. 1998 Ho Yaa Asantewa Girls,
Kumasi
7. 1999 Peki
8. 2001 Tsito Mawuli SHS, Ho
9. 2002
10. 2003 Peki Chemu SHS, Tema Celebration of 10th Anniversary
11. 2004 Koforidua
12. 2005 Keta
13. 2006 Mancel Vocational Institute, Kumasi Election held
14. 2007 Krobo Girls,Odumasi Krobo
15. 2008 HEPSS, Hohoe Election held
16. 2009 Awusco
17. 2010 Datus School Complex,Tema Election held. Ho zone boycotted the election held at Kadjebi- Asato SHS
18. 2011 GOVCO
19. 2012 Adidome SHS Election held Benkum SHS,Larteh Akuapim
20. 2013 Koforidua Polytechnic
21. 2014 Mawuko Girls SHS, Ho Election held UCC
22. 2015 Mawuli SHS, Ho
23. 2016 Ghana SHS,Tamale Election
held Can