Mr Alphonse Naab, a former National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) President at the University for Development Studies, on Wednesday advised student leaders in tertiary institutions to strictly adhere to the conventional use of dialogue and negotiations, in the resolution of conflicts with their managements.
"Other accepted means such as demonstrations and boycotts should be resorted to only when dialogue and negotiations are thrown overboard by the parties involved," he said.
Mr. Naab who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Wa after receiving a national award as the best male student leader for the year 2008, said it was the massive support he enjoyed from his colleagues and his dedication to his duties that earned him the award.
He said although demonstrations, strikes and boycotts were constitutionally accepted in any organized society, it was only fair to use them sparingly to avoid being labelled as rebellious and revolutionary.
"At a point in time as a leader, I was ready to sacrifice my education for the liberation of the students of UDS from some inconsistencies and what I will term malpractices against students."
Mr. Naab said he was able to help the Wa Campus of UDS to acquire 100 pieces of computers through Socket Works Ghana Limited, a private company to set up an Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) centre.
He said under his regime they were able to provide quality furniture into the lecture halls, organized bus and trotro services to and from the school campus, and created a cordial relationship between students and staff of the campus.
The former President pleaded with managements of various tertiary institutions to cooperate with student leaders to avoid the use of demonstrations, boycotts and strikes which were sometimes violent.