TIME WITH RICHMOND DOMPREH, CURRENT UNIVERSITY OF GHANA SRC VICE PRESIDENT

In the spotlight now is a student leader who is in the person of the SRC Vice President of University of Ghana. He contested this year's University of Ghana SRC elections with Esinam Afi Seade, who is the current SRC President of University of Ghana. Here on Info Vybes we get to delve into his personality and uncover and also learn a lot from him.

Let us get to know you a bit

My name is Richmond Dompreh, they call me Paa Kwesi at home. I come
from a family of seven people that is my parents making two, me and 
four other relatives making seven. I grew up learning a lot and I like 
to observe people and analyzing things just to learn from them. The 
Richmond you are seeing now is as a result of things that he has learnt from people, 
form books and from personal experiences. I am also a staunch christian.

Richmond Dompreh

What religious denomination do you belong to on campus?

I am a member of Christ Embassy

What program do you offer?

BSc. Business Administration, Accounting option

Tell us a bit about your educational background

I completed University JHS that is in Koforidua and then moved to Prempeh 
College for four years, I was in Butler house and then I moved on to 
University of Ghana Business School where I currently am now.

What three traits would you use to describe yourself?

Ok first of all I am determined. I don’t give up easily. Secondly I am humble. 
if I am working with you I try to find out what to expect from you and I 
respect the opinions of people. Finally I am courageous…trust me I don’t give up.

 What do you love about University of Ghana?

Personally I love the environment. There is a lot to learn from the environment. 
You know I was at Prempeh College in Kumasi and I told myself that I am coming 
to University of Ghana because I studied in Kumasi for four years. I remember when 
I was in school I had to rush to Tech and I was familiar with the environment so I said 
'look let me change the environment and see what is happening'. When I came here 
 I got to meet new people from various background, a new environment and socialized 
in it. That’s one thing about me, I like to go to new places. I was at Koforidua then 
Kumasi and made my name there…it will surprise you that when I go to Tech my 
Prempeh boys will still know me because the name is still there. And then I came here 
and I made new friends I mean I like the environment… I really do.

Which issue(s) in University of Ghana with respect to students do you think is most
pressing and needs immediate attention?

I believe more needs to be done to build student capacity to face the world outside. 
I believe in developing student capacity. One of the policies we included was capacity 
building. There is one saying that instead of giving a man fish, you ought to teach him 
how to fish so that when you are not there he will be able to feed himself. So the education 
system and the structures need to be designed in such a way that it will build student 
capacity. I had the chance to do a project with students from University of East London 
and as at that time they had investors and the visiting lecturer told me that Ghana is not 
the only country they have been to and they were researching on the feasibility of durum 
wheat production in Ghana and they were drawing a business plan and all that. You see 
these are some of the things we need to include in our structure to change our whole 
perception about things.

What hall are you affiliated to?

I am affiliated to Jean Nelson Aka Hall

What philosophy drives you?

I don’t take no for an answer and failure is not an option for me and I believe in 
perfection and excellence. I always tell people that failure is not in my dictionary and so 
I can't fail and I don’t fail.

Who is your biggest role model?

You know, there is one person whom I really look up to because his societal impact 
is really amazing in his locality and worldwide. That man is Pastor Chris. I really love the 
man he is really making impact. When I look at the man I really want to make impact. I 
want people to look up to me and say "Richmond I was able to get to this stage because 
you really helped me", you understand… I was known for that in Prempeh College from 
the way I was helping my juniors. And you know when I got to this institution, they were 
the ones who spoke for me. When I was second assistant prefect in Prempeh College I 
personally selected one of  the candidates and trained him and made sure he became a 
leader. So I always want to bring out the best in people. Yeah so its Pastor Chris for me.

How did you get to meet or know Esinam?

Wow.. Wow…Esinam has always been a good friend. I got to know her around level 
200 second semester. I have always liked her and her determination. I have always 
believed in her. Initially she was not part of my team and there were about sixteen 
aspirants and about seven of them approached me but then I realized that most of them 
were power conscious but someway somehow I believed in the lady and I realized it was
time for change and if I also have something to offer to help her then why not?

   

Did you receive any criticisms from people for contesting as the vice of Esinam?

Oh a lot… a lot. Some called me "berima kotobenku" because I wanted to vice a lady 
and all that but then I saw something. You know, one thing about a good leader is the 
ability to see. The ability to see yourself somewhere, the ability to see someone, the 
ability to see visions. So while people were complaining and all that I was seeing 
something that they could not see. I saw something in the girl… I mean I just saw it 
and I was like "wow!". You know what, someway somehow I was very relaxed. I told 
someone that I had never felt so relaxed at this stage of an election because I was so 
confident. At a point when I went for my own election at the business school, which 
I did not win unfortunately, I was so shaky but this time around it was different because 
I knew we were winning.

Esinam Afi Seade (L), Richmond Dompreh(R)

How did winning the election feel for you?

Oh I was very happy because God glorified Himself. When I lost my first election,
 my pastor told me that something bigger was coming. And it has actually 
strengthened my faith because I know I serve a living God.

What was your biggest challenge on the road to election?

One challenge I faced was missing lectures…chaley it was hard. I could go and 
campaign till 2am and I would sleep and have to wake up again at 5am to study 
and prepare for lectures in the morning. Chaley it wasn’t easy but I pulled through. 
You know it’s the system and the structures. It has trained me and right now it has 
made me better.

What positions of responsibility have  you held prior to being SRC vice president

I was the Second Assistant Senior prefect of Prempeh College. I worked hand in
hand with other prefects like Barimah and McCarthy and it was a wonderful experience. 
Then later when I came to University of Ghana I had gained grounds in student leadership 
and I was course rep from level 100 to 300 and at level 300 I vied for the position 
of Business School President and unfortunately I lost that election and I believe I learnt 
a lot from it. Then, I couldn’t handle pressure but losing that election taught me 
how to handle pressure and all that so yeah it  taught me a lot.

Look also at: Time With Robert Gyasi Cudjoe, KNUST Business School Students Association President

  

 What would anyone find you doing on a regular day?

You will find me singing. I love singing. The part I sing is turner. I love playing 
the guitar and I love watching movies and finally I like making friends. A lot of 
people think I have a lot of girlfriends none of them are. They are just my friends

How do you plan on combining your academic work with your position in the SRC?

First of all discipline. You know time waits for no man so you will just have to tell 
yourself that I am going to do this. And if it is time for something you have to do it. 
One thing that leaders do is that they move ahead of their generation, identify 
opportunities, come back and pick their people there. For example were are on 
vacation and as a leader I can get the slides for the next semester and study ahead. 
The people look up to leaders and as a leader you have to get something to offer them. 
You should be seeing thing in the next five years that the people are not seeing. 
People would not like to be with a leader they know more than. As an SRC vice 
president some students come to and be like "Dompreh I don’t understand this, 
teach me", and I should be able to help the person out and to be able to do that I 
should always learn ahead.

On a scale of 1-10 how would you score the performance of the previous SRC?

I would give them 7. They did their best but their best wasn’t enough because 
there is more to be done. And I am hoping that the next administration would rate 
us about 8 or 9 because we are going to do a lot.

What's your favorite food?

I like rice and kontomire stew especially the one with the palm oil around it… eishh
I really love that haha.

Politics after school?

I am still learning and I always seek opportunities. I made mention that I am a leader 
and society has made it in such a way that if you want to be a leader one way or the 
other you have to do some politics. So I don’t want to be a politician necessarily but 
I want to make impact. Right from here I want to work and do my Master's degree. 
I am a business student and I believe in entrepreneurship. I will see how best I 
can get a good foundation and my company in place and start working. So politics 
will come on later as a hobby. I can't go into full time politics and be like I am politician 
and all that. You know, when I first came to Legon, I didn’t plan to go for SRC. I was 
just a course rep helping my mates here and there until later I gained the influence 
and went for SRC

Work experience?

Yes I can talk about my internships, I worked with Cal bank. I was their sales intern. 
The latest one I did was at Opportunity International. I worked at their credit 
department and we actually went to remote areas to give loans to the people and 
also to collect repayments. Later on I worked at the customer service department. Like 
I said, we are still learning

Do you engage in any sport?

Erm.. I actually had a fracture when I was a kid so I stopped playing football but
I play table tennis. Its one of my favorite games

Do you play regularly or once in a while

Well I am hoping to catch you one on one on the board and you will know the 
answer to that… haha!

Finally, what is your take on the issue of student leaders embezzling student funds?

Well we have had situations of student leaders embezzling funds. Some of them 
are also accused of embezzlement. Whichever way you must know that it doesn’t 
end here. UGSRC is just a platform, it's just the beginning. I always tell people 
that don’t ever think that you won this or that so you can do whatever you 
want there. This is because the same people who brought you into power are 
watching you and in the future if you are going in for any position, they are the 
same people who will vote you in. So I am not for it; I am for the people. Serve 
the people. They voted for you because they believe in you so now give them a
 reason to justify that you made the right decision. Let them know that they entrusted 
you with their dues and you did something good with it. It is not about having the 
position but about how you handle it.