Early Beginnings
The need to establish an Adventist Students’ Fellowship on the University of Cape Coast (UCC) campus came to the fore during the early period of 1978 by three motivated young students in the University. These young students were: Paul K. Arhin, John Pepra-Mensah and Yaw A. Ankomah. They were motivated by the knowledge of the existence of such fellowships in the sister institutions of the University of Ghana, Legon, and the University of Science and Technology, as well as the presence of Christian Fellowships on the UCC campus such as PAX ROMANA and PENTEFEL. To mobilise the Adventist students on campus to form the
fellowship, posters were posted at various halls of residence as a form of advertisement. This step yielded additional nine (9) members with whom the fellowship began. Among these members were Kusi-Abora, Sister Patricia, Felix Nimoh, Brobbey, George Asare (who was appointed the first President of the Fellowship), and Yeboah Siakwan. The three founding members, namely, Arhin, Pepra-Mensah and Ankomah, thought it wise to register the fellowship in order to be recognised by the university authorities as an approved Christian group on campus. The application for registration and formal recognition in the
university was to be supported by a constitution among other requirements.

As a result, Y.A. Ankomah who acted as an organizing secretary went to Legon and made contacts with the fellowship there for a copy of their constitution and also learnt about their operations as an Adventist fellowship for emulation. Using Legon’s constitution and that of PENTEFEL as a guide, a constitution was drawn for the Adventist Students’ Fellowship (ASF) of UCC and presented to the authorities through the Students’ Representative Council (SRC). In 1979, the university granted recognition to ASF-UCC as a registered association on campus. Permission was then granted for the fellowship to use the University Chapel, now called the
House of Prayer, as a place of worship on Sabbaths and week days. Growth and Consolidation From such a humble take-off with barely 12 members, the fellowship grew steadily initially at quite a slow pace but began to gather momentum from the early 1990s. Phenomenal growth in membership was experienced from the late 1990s and has continued consistently till today with a current membership of around 500. It needs pointing out that there had been earlier attempts to establish an Adventist Students’ Fellowship on the UCC campus but apparently these attempts were unsuccessful. Although there were no records on such attempts, a few copies of New Adventist Hymnals (the former English hymnals used by the church) bearing the inscriptions of UCC Adventist Students Fellowship were found at the time the three nucleus members attempted to mobilize Adventists on campus to establish the fellowship, giving evidence that there was such an attempt earlier.

Achievements
The fellowship has achieved a lot spiritually, academically and socially. Academically, the fellowship has had a number of members who have climbed the academic ladder. Many have received masters and doctoral degrees both locally (i.e. from UCC and sister Universities in Ghana) and outside Ghana. Some have become lecturers, senior lecturers, professors, as well as teaching and research assistants in this University (UCC) and elsewhere including, in particular, Valley View University. Some have assumed important positions as Heads of University Departments, Deans and Vice-Deans, Assistant Registrars and Deputy Registrars, etc, in
Universities. Many too are also occupying important positions in the public and civil services including banking institutions, the police and prison services, and NGOs. A number of them too are serving in the pastoral ministry of the church. The readily recognised ones, among numerous others, are: Elder P. K. Arhin, Deputy Registrar, Human Resource, Dr. Ocansey, Director of the UCC Counselling Centre, Elder Marfo-Yiadom, former Dean of the School of Business, Pr. Dr.
Y. A. Ankomah, Head of DASSE, Dr E. Gyimah, Head, Department of Educational Foundations, Mr. Kissah Korsah, Elder E. T. Akonor, Elder Kingsley Adjei lecturers in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Mr. J. Asiedu, lecturer, School of Agriculture all in UCC, Dr. Seth Laryea, President of VVU, Elder Pepra-Mensah, Lecturer, VVU, Mrs. Victoria Daaku, and Mr. Paul Sono of ADRA, Elder S. S. Boateng, former General Manager of Adventist Schools, Elder Osei Yeboah, SWGC Treasurer, , Elder P.S. Kwofie, Headmaster, SDA Senior High School, Takoradi, Elder Brobbey, former Associate Treasurer, GUC, Mrs. Diana Nyatekpecoo,
Headmistress of Ghana International Schools, ACP Opare-Addoh, former Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regional Police Commander, and Pr. I. G. Morrison, District Pastor at Tema.

Currently there are a good number of UCC ASF members who are pursuing their M. Phil and PhD degrees in this University (UCC) and elsewhere. On spiritual matters, the fellowship has since its establishment been at the forefront in many such endeavours. It has been engaging in Prisons ministries and Hospital visitations, Lay-evangelistic thrusts on minor and major scales such as providing Voice of Prophecy Bible correspondence courses for students and workers, conducting Revelation seminars on campus, door to door evangelistic visits, and conduct of campus weekend crusades as well as holding of major crusades around the surrounding communities like OLA and Apewosika. It is through such crusades that the fellowship established the OLA, Apewosika and Pedu Churches. In fact, the
fellowship was also very instrumental in actually strengthening the Central S.D.A. Church of Cape Coast particularly when it was at Bakano. Indeed through both internal and external crusades conducted by the fellowship, many souls have been won for Christ and some of these people are really helping in hastening the soon coming of Christ.
In the year 2003, the fellowship began regular annual campus Bible lectures (the first of its kind among Adventist Students’ Fellowships in Ghana) with the first Speaker as Pr. Atkhinson, President of the Ohio Conference of SDA, Columbus, USA, with sponsorship by that same conference and UCC fellowship members making substantial contributions in support. Thereafter, GNAAS-UCC has continued to embark on yearly campus Bible lectures with the fellowship members being the main contributors and massively supported financially by the South Ghana Conference. Dr. S. K. Pipim, Director of Campus Ministries, University of Michigan, USA, has been a regular speaker in these Bible lecture series with his trips sponsored by himself. Dr .A. L. Ewoo has also been one of the speakers.

Since the early part of 2008/2009 academic year, the fellowship has decided to include offcampus evangelism to their evangelistic endeavours. Since then, three major crusades have been held at OLA, Asebu and Apewosika. The fellowship has acquired three building plots. Two of these lands are at Kwaprow, of 1½- plot and four-plot sizes with the aim of building hostels on them. There is a third one at Amamoma on which a chapel is being constructed to house the ever-growing fellowship. Funds towards the building have largely come from the fellowship members themselves who have been giving out of their nothingness given their usual poor financial circumstances. Churches and individuals both locally and abroad have also provided financial support. Particularly, the Ghana Church in Columbus, Ohio, USA, has provided massive financial support through the initiative of Pr. Dr. I. B. Boateng, the Church Pastor, who is also an alumnus of the fellowship.

Challenges
In spite of these achievements, the fellowship has also encountered a number of challenges. The major challenges have been difficulty in securing a place of worship during week days (Sunday,Wednesday, and Friday evenings), scheduling of quizzes and exams by lecturers on the Sabbath.
Initially, all meetings of the fellowship were held at the University Chapel. But as more fellowships began to spring up within the University community, use of the place became competitive, bringing in its wake restrictions that compelled the fellowship to shift the meetings of the weekdays to the Cafeteria-Top. However, due to renovations that were to take place on the Cafeteria block, all fellowship meetings there were asked to be stopped. Facing this situation, the fellowship has had to hold its weekday evening meetings under trees behind the old Chapel since 2006 which has exposed the members to occasional scorpion and insect bites. Again with the phenomenal increase in membership especially since the early 2000s, the UCC old Chapel has proved to be too small for Sabbath worship. Also with the many fellowships on campus, members are able to use the chapel for Sabbath worship only up to 12 noon to allow other religious groups to hold their meetings.


Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the Lord Almighty for bringing us this far. We would also want to express our profound gratitude to our pioneers whose selflessness and commitment gave rise to the eventual establishment of the GNAAS UCC fellowship. Again, we wish to acknowledge the support received from Dr. C.S. Kpeglo, Senior Assistant Registrar, Examinations, particularly in her making sure that no examination papers are scheduled for Saturdays during regular Universitywide
examinations. Mama, may God reward you abundantly. We also cherish the services rendered to us by the Chaplaincy Director and PPCC Chaplain specifically in helping us get our issues addressed as a fellowship. Further, we want to show our gratitude to the fellowship Chaplain, Patrons, especially Elder E.T. Akono, Elder P. K. Arhin, Elder Matthew Amekpewu and Elder Robertson Akrofi, Pr. Onyeani and family, Pr. Emmanuel Tchouchu, Pr. Arhin-Sam and the District Pastor for having the interest of the fellowship at heart and the countless services granted us. Above all, we want to express our gratitude to Prof. F. M. Mbon, a visiting lecturer
from Nigeria; though he has been here for barely two months, his regularity in attending services has been very inspirational to members. But above all, we wish to thank all fellowship members, past and present, for their prayers, financial contributions and their resilience amidst the various challenges, all of which have contributed to get the fellowship this far. It is our prayer that God writes your names in the book of life and reward you endlessly. AMEN!!