NUGS must revive intellectualism and fact-checking culture – Anatu Anne Bogobiri Esq

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Anatu Anne Seidu Bogobiri Esq. has been urged National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) to strengthen intellectual engagement, revive its debating culture and make fact-checking a central part of student activism.

She said intellectual capacity is essential if students were to play a meaningful role in Ghana’s national politics and governance.

Speaking at the 59th NUGS conference on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, on the theme “The Role of Students in Shaping National Politics,” she challenged students to make the pursuit of knowledge a priority rather than allowing social media to determine their opinions.

“NUGS must keep the flame of intellectualism alive,” she said, explaining that intellectual engagement was what kept the student body relevant in national affairs.

According to her, students who develop strong intellectual capacity would be better positioned to contribute to decision-making and pursue opportunities within Ghana’s three arms of government.

She therefore urged NUGS to preserve the culture of debating and create platforms where students could interrogate national policies, exchange ideas and engage in constructive discussions on issues affecting the country.

Ms Bogobiri also cautioned students against accepting information on social media without verifying its accuracy.

“We must fact-check and conclude on the side of truth,” she stressed, warning students not to allow social media to “think for you.”
“Don’t be minions,” she added.

She said the ability to distinguish facts from misinformation was particularly important in national politics, where uninformed opinions could influence public discourse and decision-making.

The NHIA Deputy CEO further urged students to move beyond simply consuming information and instead develop the capacity to analyse policies and hold leaders accountable based on evidence.

She said an informed student population would be better equipped to understand how the government works and assess whether policies were serving the interests of ordinary Ghanaians.

Ms Bogobiri maintained that the relevance of NUGS depended not only on its ability to represent students but also on its capacity to contribute intellectually to Ghana’s national conversation.

She consequently called on student leaders to read widely, debate issues responsibly, verify information and use knowledge as a tool for shaping the country’s political future