Ban on political activities on Legon campus is in badtaste - Karbo

The ban on political party activities on the campuses of Ghana’s premier university has received mixed reactions from the various political party leaders across the country.

Authorities at the nation’s premier university, the University of Ghana few days banned open air political activities on campus.

Our sources say a circular purportedly signed by the registrar, J.M Budu, banned all political rallies, congresses and conventions with immediate effect.

But the step by the university does not seem to go down well with the various political parties. Youth Organizer of the ruling National Democratic Congress(NDC), Ludgwig Hlordze who also happens to be the chairman of the Inter-party Youth Committee, IPYC.

He was of the view that Political party wings on campuses are channels for the political parties to train young people in various political ideologies, and to give them some sense of leadership at the student level.

Latest to join the debate is the National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Anthony Karbo.

Speaking on the *Gold Power Drive*, on Friday, Mr. Karbo expressed surprise at the decision taken by the University saying, “Honestly, I was very shocked. The least I would have expected from the university administration is to admonish certain level of decorum as far as the existence of various groups on the university campuses is concerned”.

He explained further that most of the political organizations on the various campuses are registered into “what we call the Amalgamated clubs in the university system”.

Mr. Karbo raised concerns of the implications of the decision taken by the university authorities on democracy.

“I was a bit surprised when this decision came out especially from Ghana’s premier university which is the citadel for the production of many young and brilliant politicians the country has ever since we moved into democracy”. He added.

On issue of how far the ban will affect political activities, Mr. Karbo said “it clearly means that a total closure or access denied to political actors from explaining more important issues that concern university education in our country”.

“How are we ever going to get inputs from people in as far as strengthening our educational system and feeding into policies of political parties” is concerned.

‘’The existence of political parties on campuses is a major platform that provide for young people which gives them the opportunity to display their intellectual muscles, argue out issues and understand ideological positions’’.

He also expressed surprise as to why a university which offers political science as a course will close a major platform that political parties provide.

“The university is supposed to be a centre of excellence. It is unacceptable for the university administrators to ban political activities on campuses”.

He therefore asked the university authorities to consider their decision because they will certainly not win the debate.

“They haven’t been able to provide any logical base or evidence for the decision that they have taken” to say that political activities are causing mayhem on university campuses.

Mr Karbo added that the youth wing of the various political parties as part of their mandate is expected to fight against anything that has the potential of derailing the proper youth development agenda that we are placing for Ghanaians.

Political activities according to the NPP National Youth Organizer are “positive, disciplined and effective activities and it provides various leaders for the various political parties”.

“Right from the days of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, we have seen brilliant politicians who come out of the universities because of the platform created for them”. He stated.

He has urged urged civil society groups and religious bodies to stand against this decision by the university authorities .