Comment: The Legon road toll saga - another case of ugly noises?

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BBC NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 11 years ago

I pity those young men and women in the akan's npp party . When did the young ones in this party will realize that their future is bing hijacked by the old ,old men in the party? They claimed the npp is a democratic party, bu ...
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I pity those young men and women in the akan's npp party . When did the young ones in this party will realize that their future is bing hijacked by the old ,old men in the party? They claimed the npp is a democratic party, but the same people were shouting on their lunges No nana No vote. Where in the world will 83 years old man is going to consult GOD for his ugly tribalism political future? Only in akan's npp party. Tweeeeaaaa! !!!
Paul Kumi 11 years ago

This is a brilliant piece. It s time we shrugged off the pettiness of enjoying all the frebbies without thinking about how the said frebbies will.be paid for. Let's all.learn to co tribute a little to keep our systems always ...
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This is a brilliant piece. It s time we shrugged off the pettiness of enjoying all the frebbies without thinking about how the said frebbies will.be paid for. Let's all.learn to co tribute a little to keep our systems always functional. Is it nta shame that taps seldom flow on the campuses and that one's heart drops when a request is made of Legon,'s washrooms. At beast they are now smear rooms hereafter attend to the toilets, you leave with wafts of putrid toilet scents ignobly following you. Please a little sacrifice will make Ghana better. The free here and free there is what is killing this country. Let's be bold today that. I fully agree with the university when it charges so.e tolls for the maintenance. Just let's ensure there is transparency in the disbursement of monies realised from these tollings.
Paul Kumi 11 years ago

This is a brilliant piece. Its time we shrugged off the pettiness of enjoying all the frebbies without thinking about how the said frebbies will be paid for. Let's all learn to contribute a little to keep our systems always f ...
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This is a brilliant piece. Its time we shrugged off the pettiness of enjoying all the frebbies without thinking about how the said frebbies will be paid for. Let's all learn to contribute a little to keep our systems always functional. Isnt it a shame that taps seldom flow on the campuses and that one's heart drops when a request is made of Legon's washrooms. At best they are now smear rooms because after using the toilets, you leave the place with wafts of putrid toilet scents ignobly following you. Please a little sacrifice will make Ghana better. The free here and free there is what is killing this country. Let's be bold today that. I fully agree with the university when it charges some tolls for the maintenance. Just let's ensure there is transparency in the disbursement of monies realised from these tollings.
OSEI TAWIAH 11 years ago

NDC wants to collect every revenue at every corner for chops but they will start their envy when someone else does the same.

NDC wants to collect every revenue at every corner for chops but they will start their envy when someone else does the same.
The mask 11 years ago

The university of Ghana remains the primary source of economists and political thought in Ghana. That Ghana should be in this state of affairs is reflective of the failures of Legon.

The premier university of Ghana - The U ...
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The university of Ghana remains the primary source of economists and political thought in Ghana. That Ghana should be in this state of affairs is reflective of the failures of Legon.

The premier university of Ghana - The University of Ghana Legon sadly does not appear in the top
500 universities on earth. This must be corrected immediately. The university in order to achieve this must improve:
1) Faculty student ratio
2) The number of research projects it carries out
3) The test scores of its entry class (internationally normalised)
4) Employers' review of performance of its graduates (local and abroad)
5) Peer review by other universities
GHFUO, be serious & change ur MENtali 11 years ago

THE VC MUST BE FIRED. UG IS SIMPLY CASH GRABBING. IF U WANT THE UG CAMPUS TO BE CONDUCIVE FOR LEARNING. CHARGING CASH FOR STICKERS IS NOT THE ANSWER. U SIMPLY BAN ALL CARS FROM CAMPUS, PERIOD. UG IS JUST CASH GRABBING.
SOLUT ...
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THE VC MUST BE FIRED. UG IS SIMPLY CASH GRABBING. IF U WANT THE UG CAMPUS TO BE CONDUCIVE FOR LEARNING. CHARGING CASH FOR STICKERS IS NOT THE ANSWER. U SIMPLY BAN ALL CARS FROM CAMPUS, PERIOD. UG IS JUST CASH GRABBING.
SOLUTION:
1.GET RID OF THE VC
2.CLOSE OFF MAJOR STREETS THAT LEAD INTO THE UG CAMPUS. THIS WILL REDUCE TRAFFIC
3.BUILD PAID PARKING SPOTS ON CAMPUS. SO TAXIS, PRIVATE DRIVERS, STUDENTS, WORKERS ETC CAN PAY FOR PARKING WEN THEY PARK ON UG CAMPUS. U CAN ALSO HVE PPL PAY FOR DAY, HOURLY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY OR YRLY PARKING.
4. UG IS A TERTIARY INSTITUTION. SO THE PUBLIC CAN HVE ACCESS TO THE CAMPUS AS LONG AS THEY R NOT A SECURITY THREAT TO THE STUDENTS.
THIS CASH GRAB IS SENSELESS
Elsie 11 years ago

If UG is to do all you are saying,

1.Will paying for parking not also be considered as cash grabbing as you claim by other people?

2.Will you fund the building of these paid parking spots?

3.What do you propose is ...
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If UG is to do all you are saying,

1.Will paying for parking not also be considered as cash grabbing as you claim by other people?

2.Will you fund the building of these paid parking spots?

3.What do you propose is an appropriate rate for parking per hour?

4.What do you propose as a test to determine how much of a security threat a person may be? Body and car searches perhaps?
If so, will these searches be before or after entry into the campus? If before will this not cause traffic build up and an invasion of privacy? If after, who is to chase after these cars after they enter campus? Will they carry tags to determine who has been searched and who hasn't?
Shouting out suggestions through a keyboard does not mean you have made any valid points.
Omanba Chicago IL 11 years ago

This is a very good piece of writing. The facts, as presented, make sense but my question is, 'This write-up should not consider the University of Ghana, in isolation. Charging toll for using some specific road in a Universit ...
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This is a very good piece of writing. The facts, as presented, make sense but my question is, 'This write-up should not consider the University of Ghana, in isolation. Charging toll for using some specific road in a University is unheard-of. Much as I appreciate the contents in the write-up, may I use this opportunity to ask how other Universities in the country fund their projects without charging tolls to cover the expenses? As much as I know, this is the only University the world over, that charges toll for using its roads. It is very unfortunate to write this nice piece but which falls short in content. The point is, if other Universities in the country can take care of their roads without taking tolls to offset the expenses, then why should the University of Ghana take tolls? It's true that the government is shielding away its responsibility for not giving funds to the University for such projects, but the question here is,' Is it only the University that the government is shielding its responsibility for not providing funds? If other Universities negatively receive funding from the government and yet do not charge tolls, then it's wrong for the University to charge tolls. Period!
Divine. 11 years ago

Why don't you go back and read what the author is trying to convey???

The problem at hand is a national one, it is not about NPP!!!

Why don't you go back and read what the author is trying to convey???

The problem at hand is a national one, it is not about NPP!!!
somebody papapa 11 years ago

who is this idiot call BBC who want to spoil my day

who is this idiot call BBC who want to spoil my day

Revjay393@yahoo.co.uk 11 years ago

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Sami - South Africa 11 years ago

Hello Kwaku
Your article is so right to the point and properly articulated that I cant agree with you more. The arguments you raised and the conclusion are so correct. Can you research other ailing sectors of our heritage an ...
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Hello Kwaku
Your article is so right to the point and properly articulated that I cant agree with you more. The arguments you raised and the conclusion are so correct. Can you research other ailing sectors of our heritage and compile such a compelling piece to the authorities that be to act and act now to save and build on what the forefathers of Ghana have established. Legon is truly our Havard but politicians and all tend to turn blind eyes to making it stand out of Africa. Kudos to you.
peace 11 years ago

it appears you do not understand the issues at stake.

it appears you do not understand the issues at stake.
Larbi Asare 11 years ago

A very nice write up. You have said it all. Heritage must be protected no matter what, and under no circumstances should we allow our cherished national assets to be thrown to the dogs, as happened with most of such treasures ...
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A very nice write up. You have said it all. Heritage must be protected no matter what, and under no circumstances should we allow our cherished national assets to be thrown to the dogs, as happened with most of such treasures, the lattest being the sale of the vodafone. One of the most cherished assets in my opinion. The decision by the Authorities on the toll collection is not all that bad, but I think the preparing and the way it took off was the problem. Perhaps, the timing was too is the problem. Maybe, the decision could have been thrown to the public for their take on it, which might probably come after all to what they are now rejecting. The act is good but the implemetation is the problem and also, it has to do with our usual partisan ways that do not distinguish issues of national interest and that of party interest. Consultations before the implemenations would have averted such problems. Finally I think we need to protectt and safeguard our heritage as you rightly said.
prempeh 1 11 years ago

No, the idiot leaders we`ve been having cannot preserve or protect our heritage, so is the destruction of our National carrier, the Ghana Airways and Black Star shipping Lines.

No, the idiot leaders we`ve been having cannot preserve or protect our heritage, so is the destruction of our National carrier, the Ghana Airways and Black Star shipping Lines.
NN 11 years ago

How right could you and Azure be!!!!!! The hypocrite called Ghanaian and the lazy MP ought to use their brains instead of emotion. Calling for the bar to be raised for the law-makers is one way to go. Their own Kwabena Donkor ...
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How right could you and Azure be!!!!!! The hypocrite called Ghanaian and the lazy MP ought to use their brains instead of emotion. Calling for the bar to be raised for the law-makers is one way to go. Their own Kwabena Donkor (NDC Pru) even said it that the Ghanaian politician is intellectually lazy. See how Muntaka (of Mills Sports Ministry fame) was arguing. IGNORAMUS. Tweaaaaaaaa!
mky 11 years ago

Botwe, whatever happened to brevity and clarity, two cardinal points you should have picked up in journalism 101? Why numb our minds with idle issues completely unrelated to the toll issue? No wonder you are in broadcast jou ...
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Botwe, whatever happened to brevity and clarity, two cardinal points you should have picked up in journalism 101? Why numb our minds with idle issues completely unrelated to the toll issue? No wonder you are in broadcast journalism.

Why on earth do you draw parallels between Ablakwa, your 'ordeal' as a 'percher' at Legon, and the BBC with the public's reaction to Legon's imposition of what is more a tax than a toll on users of its roads?

Legon in all its glory as an academic powerhouse in Africa is wrong to levy tolls(taxes)on those who dare utilize its thoroughfares....no public university worth its salt to resort to this desperate fiscal maneuver to shore up its finances...it is just not done....you mentioned Harvard, again, a moot point of reference....that university smacked right in the middle of the city of Boston alongside other universities and colleges, would not dare conjure a scheme to extract money from those who use its roads en-route to their destinations because the public outcry would be so loud and deafening......it is just not done....

Whoever dreamed up this policy ought to be berated endlessly...there is no precedent of its kind anywhere else in the world and for you, Botwe, to even attempt to defend and justify this archaic policy is proof positive that
you are in the minority....
Whatever 11 years ago

Did we put in place a public university to be blocking roads and charging tolls or we put them there to be producing graduates who will come up with ideas to make society better?

Did we put in place a public university to be blocking roads and charging tolls or we put them there to be producing graduates who will come up with ideas to make society better?
Musah 11 years ago

Ewes in Ghana they are entitled to anything and everything free of charge. The University have every right to resist access to the campus.

Ewes in Ghana they are entitled to anything and everything free of charge. The University have every right to resist access to the campus.
Lord Tennison 11 years ago

It's an example of the inefficient and parochial leadership of John Mahama.
When the center cannot hold,things will fall apart.
Should the roads of our premier university or those of the other institutions of higher learnin ...
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It's an example of the inefficient and parochial leadership of John Mahama.
When the center cannot hold,things will fall apart.
Should the roads of our premier university or those of the other institutions of higher learning have pot holes,for that matter?
What is the yada,yada,yada about the university authorities trying to raise funds for maintenance in order to enhance the image of our first university?
Doesn't it seem ridiculous that huge sums of money have been fraudulently paid out as judgement debts when the kids, who are the leaders of tomorrow,are schooled under trees at the mercy of vulture droppings and the infrastructure of our tertiary institutions are crying for maintenance and renovation?
John Mahama is supervising a lawless country.Why did Col. Gbevlo Lartey go to demolish the toll booth without going to a court of law first?
In the civilized societies,you can erect structures anywhere.But only a judge's demolishing order can empower anybody to pull the illegally-erected structure down.
Was John Mahama aware that Col.Gbevlo Lartey had decided to act in a fashion of the jungle?
Absolutely nothing is working in Ghana.We are being impoverished by Mahama's bogus policies day in and out.Nothing will until this narrow-minded Mahama,a mockery of the presidency,is voted out of office.
What difference does the toll booths and the purchase of stickers make?
Aren't the guardians of continuing university students paying hostel fees,clothing and feeding their wards already?
The irrelevant arguments should stop and very important issues tackled.
All the economic indices do not look good for Ghana, now or in the years ahead.Our GDP rate of growth is on a downward trend.It will most likely be in the negative.And with the growth of the population,the pittance GDP per capita will dwindle.Housing is unaffordable to Ghanaians.If affordable,a chunk of disposable income goes to service the mortgage.Armed robberies are spiraling.The Cedi is on life support. These are serious issues which should be of concern to John Mahama and the boot-licking Ghanaian press, not the trivialities.

Owie 11 years ago

I have always said Legon is facing this backlash because of poor stakeholder consultation and engagement. This is a good lesson to let them know they are not an Island and that all stakeholders should have been identified and ...
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I have always said Legon is facing this backlash because of poor stakeholder consultation and engagement. This is a good lesson to let them know they are not an Island and that all stakeholders should have been identified and consulted. I wish them luck
AHMED YACOB 11 years ago

That useless JSS deputy minister of education with sharp teeth. He wrote and complained about the state of Legon being in a coma, then when he is in charge does nothing. When someone fixes it he criticizes. Such impudence and ...
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That useless JSS deputy minister of education with sharp teeth. He wrote and complained about the state of Legon being in a coma, then when he is in charge does nothing. When someone fixes it he criticizes. Such impudence and stupidity Ablakwa!
Newsman 11 years ago

Your comment is on the point. However, don't blame the reporters for their shoddy work. The total blame lies with their supervisors and mentors who do not ask them the simple and tough questions such as "Have you spoken to ...
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Your comment is on the point. However, don't blame the reporters for their shoddy work. The total blame lies with their supervisors and mentors who do not ask them the simple and tough questions such as "Have you spoken to the other side?". "Have you verified with others to authenticate your story?" "Do you have the historical background covered?" Their editors are lazy; simple and short. They don't deserve a pass on such behaviour. I guess a few more punitive libel judgements will cause them (the editors and owners of the media)to sit up.
Free speech does not equate to false sensational stories. Comprehensive stories and not first to the press will in the end establish a medium as credible.
kwaku bonsu 11 years ago

You are missing the point Mr. Botwe. You are struggling to defend a cause that is not defensible. You started talking about the imposition of tolls and you then got into funding for tertiary education. At the end of your piec ...
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You are missing the point Mr. Botwe. You are struggling to defend a cause that is not defensible. You started talking about the imposition of tolls and you then got into funding for tertiary education. At the end of your piece I do not really know what you were really defending. However let me take you up on the imposition of the tolls. To start with, you were uncomfortable with the word "impose". Whichever way you try to spin it on behalf of Legon, the toll was an imposition. The issue was a badly thought-out, badly marketed, and poorly managed PR by the Legon authorities. I am also an alumni of Legon and of Akuafo Hall Annex 1 Room 410 many years ago. From the three years I spent there till now, Legon behaves like an Island unto itself. It seems to be only interested in living on its past glory...content with wearing the crown of "Ghana's Premier University". Hmmmnnn! "Premiership" comes with a certain expectation, standards and responsibility.

Kwaku, be honest with yourself and admit that the reasons that Legon has given so far for the imposition of the tolls do not make any sense whatsover. And to think about the fact that this was an issue crafted by well-educated academics beats imagination. The main reason (and its the only one) they gave for the imposition of the tolls was to raise money to defray a loan they took to fix the roads. When they thought about this plan and imposed the tolls, they were very happy to collect the money, regardless of the traffic it was going to create through the campus. Nowhere in its PR spin did they talk about the fact that allowing private, public, semi-private, all kinds of vehicles through the university campus was going to endanger lives and threaten the serenity of the campus and disrupt academic life...reasons they just found out when the issue became hot. All of a sudden, they realize that allowing public vehicles through the campus was going to threaten lives and all those brouhaha above. No consideration was given to the threats to lives, academic activity or otherwise when they started collecting the tolls. Lives and academic activity became threatened only when they were asked to stop charging tolls.

Kwaku please advise the men and women on the Hill at Legon, if you are their new PRO ( I think they really need a smart one)to come up with something more sensible than they have so far tried to spin. Did you read their report to the Ministry? It was laughable, to say the least. It was full of mistakes. Go back and read it and check the mistakes and confusion over dates....And its coming from Ghana's "Premier" University?

The behaviour of Legon over this issue does not match up with any standards in any university anywhere in the world. People go to university campuses all the time to transact all kinds of businesses. This is normal and Legon should find a better way of managing the road use on its campus. Arrogance does not pay but that is what Legon is exhibiting. They don't seem to understand why the "ordinary" people out there should challenge an action taken by the big men/women on the Hill at Ghana's "Premier" university...yes, that is the Ivory Tower, Town and Gown mentality which Legon finds it difficult to shed in this modern era.
PASTOR 11 years ago

Kwaku Bonsu, that is exactly what I was thinking. You are one of a kind.

Kwaku Bonsu, that is exactly what I was thinking. You are one of a kind.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 11 years ago

Those of us who are critical of university authorities' decision to restrict access to some of its roads are not against the charges but rather we do not buy the reason/s given by the authorities. We are also of the view the ...
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Those of us who are critical of university authorities' decision to restrict access to some of its roads are not against the charges but rather we do not buy the reason/s given by the authorities. We are also of the view the the university authorities made a bad PR/communication job.

Are you now suggestion that this whole thing was about money (revenue raising)? If that was the case, then the government's decision to pay for the loan secured by the university to resurfaced the roads should have ended any argument over this matter.

One of the main reasons given by the university authorities for the restrictions was disruption of academic work due to noise. That was illogical since the university was prepared to allow as many vehicles as possible to use the roads provided they paid an entry user charge. What was the evidence that this measure would have removed the noise? The fact is that the university was motivated by finance rather than reducing noise and danger. This is because there are many universities in very busy city centres in the developed world that experience more traffic and noise than Legon but academic work is never disrupted.

The real reason why the second restriction was hurriedly implemented was to show the National Security Coordinator or the government where power lies. In other words, it was a revenge reaction to the National Security's first lawless action of "where power lies". This matter is about raising revenue and not about reducing noise and the university authorities have been disingenuous and shown lack respects for other stakeholders such students and parents with children at the university junior school as well as workers who use commercial vehicles to and from work. They could have done better.

I do not get your point about many Ghanaians having connection with the university either as alumni, spouse of an alumna/alumae, etc. What has that got to a poor policy implementation?

There is too much lawless in Ghana and it appears University of Ghana authorities are descending that abyss of lawlessness. This decision is not about Ghanaians wanting everything free. It's more than that. It's above all, the management of resources in Ghana, access to a public institution of learning without causing disruption/damage as well the rights of students, parents and others; the safety of school children, etc within what is acceptable and in accordance with the laws, regulations and rules of the university and Ghana. It's more complex than you tried to portray in your article.
Aaron Abuosi 11 years ago

Kofi,
I must confess I enjoyed reading your intelligent response to the earlier writer, but I still do not agree with your conclusions also. They are either borne out of misinformation, mischief or a failure to do a more cr ...
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Kofi,
I must confess I enjoyed reading your intelligent response to the earlier writer, but I still do not agree with your conclusions also. They are either borne out of misinformation, mischief or a failure to do a more critical analysis of the issue.
I do not intend to conjecture into the arena of mischief since in Shakespeare's words "there is no art to see the mind's construction". But on the misinformation, the university had three objectives for instituting the toll: 1. to raise revenue for refund of the loan raised to work on the roads
2. to reduce traffic which has proven to be an intractable problem affecting academic work
3. to ensure maintenance of the road network in the future.
Your analysis failed to take all these into consideration.
Thus, the university has not run away from the 'raising revenue' argument. And why should it? Where was government when the roads were like "oware" as someone put it? Your other misinformation is that "the second restriction was hurriedly implemented was to show the National Security Coordinator or the government where power lies". This conclusion indeed is unfortunate, coming from someone who can be be described as an intellectual. You seem to be getting carried away by your heart and not your head. The fact is that the so-called restriction has always been there, what was new was the introduction of the toll which was abandoned. I don't know whether you were expecting the university not to revisit the earlier restriction, then we can pick the arguments from there. Between the time the tolling was suspended and the re-introduction of the restriction, you should have seen the river of traffic on Legon campus which made it difficult for lecturers staying outside the university campus to meet their students for early morning lectures. This leads me to your failure to do a more critical analysis of the issue. So, whose interest are you fighting for: the students who may miss lectures or the general public who must have access to the university campus because it is a public institution? If free access constitute a breach of the "rights of students, parents and others" don't the same interest groups deserve the right to be protected from any mishap that can occur due to failure of the university to restrict entry into the campus. Even if we were to ignore the inconvenience of lecturers, the noise, the possibility of accidents, etc, can you vouch that students will be completely safe from theft and other forms of social vices if the university were to be left open for access like going to Makola market in Accra?
You are writing from Cambridge in UK, and you are making the point that "there are many universities in very busy city centres in the developed world that experience more traffic and noise than Legon but academic work is never disrupted". However, you have woefully failed to place our situation in a developing country context. It is not the best of comparisons to compare apples and oranges. How are the nature of roads in universities of those developed countries? How solid are their security systems compared with ours? In other words, if some mishap were to occur to a student on campus, given the security apparatus of Ghana and your developed countries, which security system would prove more successful in handling the situation. So you see, we can go on and on, tabulating why you cannot conclude that what is happening in the developed countries must be allowed to happen here. In any case, why do you think we must always learn from them? Who says that every university out there can be compared to University of Ghana, or the other universities for that matter? I do not intend to dwell on this issue, but check your facts, and you may discover that perhaps you would spare some of your precious time there to evangelize for foreign students to rather come and join their colleagues here and learn something from us.
May God bless our homeland Ghana.
PASTOR 11 years ago

If the one of the reasons is to reduce traffic, what traffic calming or traffic control devices were implemented?
if you are talking about comparing apples and apples, what university in a developing country charges toll at ...
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If the one of the reasons is to reduce traffic, what traffic calming or traffic control devices were implemented?
if you are talking about comparing apples and apples, what university in a developing country charges toll at their main entrances?
PASTOR 11 years ago

I constructed and maintain the road to my house. From your conslusion, I will start charging my own toll for anyone who uses it.

I constructed and maintain the road to my house. From your conslusion, I will start charging my own toll for anyone who uses it.
KKO 11 years ago

Well said, Aaron,
I am not sure how old the VC, Registrar and other top officials of the Unveristy of Ghana are, but all the three old universities of Ghana used to have restrictions to entry to the campuses. Their handling ...
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Well said, Aaron,
I am not sure how old the VC, Registrar and other top officials of the Unveristy of Ghana are, but all the three old universities of Ghana used to have restrictions to entry to the campuses. Their handling of this issue has been so clumsy and amateurish.

Apart from tha fact that the university contracted loans to repair/rebuild the roads on campus, the roads on the university campuses were not designed for the kind of trafic that uses them today. So it is just common sense to limit the use of these roads to light traffic.

The university of Ghana does not owe anybody with respect to ease of getting to and from home. It is that incompetent and cluless government they elected that owe the people of Ghana that privilege. Those bribe-taking jokers in Parliamnet House should see to that. If they cannot get thieving state official to declare their assets as demanded by the Constitution of Ghana, they should just shut up and continue to disgrace themselves there; the whole world now knows what they are!

Chris E. Arthur 11 years ago

i have something little to add to what Kweku and Aaron have said. When we dwell on media emotional and hyperbolic languages, i am afraid the country will retrogress from a standstill to a fall. For some time now issues of ro ...
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i have something little to add to what Kweku and Aaron have said. When we dwell on media emotional and hyperbolic languages, i am afraid the country will retrogress from a standstill to a fall. For some time now issues of road and sticker of the UG have had more space on the media. The question is, have the reporters of these media houses genuinely taken the pain to investigate into what they don't know or are just following the crowd in singing the "crucify him" chorus. This is a simple analogy for thoughts. If you build a house with more than one gates or doors don't you have the right to determine which doors should be opened to outsiders and which ones to be used by your household? Does it just mean that having multiple gates gives the right to visitors to decide for themselves which doors to use? If yes, then what does this imply? If no, then how different is it from the case of the university? The university has its right to authorize entries into its campus and by which entrance or exists. If okponglo is the designated entry and exist for the public does that mean that the university does not want outsiders on its premises while it deals with outsiders? NO NO NO, it is only a control measure. The university is a home for some students and staff and hence like the analogy earlier given, it has its rights to decide which doors to be used by outsiders. Now, how can the university know at a glance, a motorist who belongs to its household? By the sticker!! So that without sticker u can't use the roads which members of its household can use.

In all these cases, has anyone heard it reported that an outsider on foot has been restricted from using any other gate apart from okponglo? Certainly not!! So where from the impression nicely garnished that the university does not want outsiders to come to the premises? Let's just know that the university is as well a home and that whatever we do to manage our homes well can also be applied to manage it.

Peace
YAA 11 years ago

There is no doubt that Kofi's analysis is borne out of mischief and misinformation. In fact he was not misinformed but he refused to get the facts right from the right source. Judging from where he is writing, he could have b ...
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There is no doubt that Kofi's analysis is borne out of mischief and misinformation. In fact he was not misinformed but he refused to get the facts right from the right source. Judging from where he is writing, he could have been well informed if that was his concern.
Kwamena Sagoe 11 years ago

lawlessness is when laws are not observed. In this case, UG has done nothing outside the law. The writer should kindly show me what law UG has flouted?

lawlessness is when laws are not observed. In this case, UG has done nothing outside the law. The writer should kindly show me what law UG has flouted?
KOFI ABROKWA, HOUSTON, TEXAS. 11 years ago

BUY AND SELL ON CRAIGSLIST FOR FREE.
GO TO: CRAIGSLIST.ORG, ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT LOOK FOR CL WORLDWIDE, AFTRICA, GHANA. LOOK AT THE AREA OF INTEREST AND GO FROM THERE. YOU CAN RENEW YOUR AD EVERY 48HRS.
DO NOT FORGET TO RE ...
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BUY AND SELL ON CRAIGSLIST FOR FREE.
GO TO: CRAIGSLIST.ORG, ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT LOOK FOR CL WORLDWIDE, AFTRICA, GHANA. LOOK AT THE AREA OF INTEREST AND GO FROM THERE. YOU CAN RENEW YOUR AD EVERY 48HRS.
DO NOT FORGET TO READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT FRAUD. BE CAREFUL.
BE CAREFUL ABOUT BUYERS THAT WANT TO GIVE YOU CHEQUES. DO NOT ACCEPT ANY CHEQUES.
Kofi Ayeh 11 years ago

The professors pay minimum rent. Some pay as little as GH 10.00 a month. How ridiculous. Are they abuve us? They wany everthing for free . Please ivestgate thia.

The professors pay minimum rent. Some pay as little as GH 10.00 a month. How ridiculous. Are they abuve us? They wany everthing for free . Please ivestgate thia.
Kofi Ayeh 11 years ago

Wgy do some of the professors pay as little as !0.00 cedis amonth rent on rent for housing af Legon?

Wgy do some of the professors pay as little as !0.00 cedis amonth rent on rent for housing af Legon?
edem 11 years ago

NO UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OR STAFF PAYS AS LITTLE AS GHC 10.OO FOR RENT!!!! EVEN THOSE IN HOUSES WITH SINGLE BEDROOM PAY ATLEAST GHC 50.00 AND THOSE YOU ACCUSE (USUALLY THEY RENT 3 BEDROOM HOUSES) PAY BETWEEN GHC 400.00 AND GHC ...
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NO UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OR STAFF PAYS AS LITTLE AS GHC 10.OO FOR RENT!!!! EVEN THOSE IN HOUSES WITH SINGLE BEDROOM PAY ATLEAST GHC 50.00 AND THOSE YOU ACCUSE (USUALLY THEY RENT 3 BEDROOM HOUSES) PAY BETWEEN GHC 400.00 AND GHC 500.00 A MONTH ASIDE FROM WATER AND ELECTRICITY BILLS. SO PLEASE ITS NEVER TRUE THAT UNIVERSITY STAFF PAY AAS LOW AS GHC 10.00
Kwamena Sagoe 11 years ago

No professor pays that kind of rent. Stop polluting the environment.

No professor pays that kind of rent. Stop polluting the environment.
Kwaku London 11 years ago

The University authorities should stick to THEIR GUNS AND CHARGE USERS OF THE THEIR ROADS SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE MONEY TO DEVELOP THE PLACE. 100% RIGHT DECISION. THE UNIVERSITY MUST BE THANKED FOR THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX T ...
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The University authorities should stick to THEIR GUNS AND CHARGE USERS OF THE THEIR ROADS SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE MONEY TO DEVELOP THE PLACE. 100% RIGHT DECISION. THE UNIVERSITY MUST BE THANKED FOR THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX TO TAKE SUCH A BOLD AND WISE DECISION OF KING SOLOMON'S PROPORTIONS !! THEY SHOULD ALSO SUE AND RECOVER FROM THAT SO CALLED HEAD OF SECURITY FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE GATE. THE WHOLE OF THE GOVERNMENT APPARATUS IS CORRUPT TO THE CORE AND CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO DO ANYTHING GOOD FOR GHANA. GHANAIANS ARE SPOILT BRATTS WHO WANT TO GET EVERYTHING FREE !. NWASEASEM ARA KWA !! LET THEM PAY MAN. THIS IS PURE, UNDILUTED COMMERCAIL COMMONSENSE !!!
Jomo 11 years ago

USA students pay more and more each year we donot have fixed tuition. Tu get money for developments.

USA students pay more and more each year we donot have fixed tuition. Tu get money for developments.
edem 11 years ago

MR KWAKU BOTWE, I AM THRILLED BY THIS PIECE WHICH IS INSIGHTFUL AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING. I WISH YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE MEDIA WILL TAKE A CUE FROM YOU AND STOP THE HALF TRUTHS AND UNEDUCATED COMMENTARIES ABOUT THE LEGON ISSUE. ...
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MR KWAKU BOTWE, I AM THRILLED BY THIS PIECE WHICH IS INSIGHTFUL AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING. I WISH YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE MEDIA WILL TAKE A CUE FROM YOU AND STOP THE HALF TRUTHS AND UNEDUCATED COMMENTARIES ABOUT THE LEGON ISSUE. GOOD WORK DONE.
JOJOE 11 years ago

The incompetencies of the Mahama Presidency is what is causing all these confusion. CHANGE! is the only way out of this.

The incompetencies of the Mahama Presidency is what is causing all these confusion. CHANGE! is the only way out of this.
PASTOR 11 years ago

This is a well written piece but the idea misses the boat.
Kwaku, please answer the following questions:
1. Did Legon consider other sources of funding for the Campus road construction and maintenance? Did they consider:
...
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This is a well written piece but the idea misses the boat.
Kwaku, please answer the following questions:
1. Did Legon consider other sources of funding for the Campus road construction and maintenance? Did they consider:
a. Parking fee?
b. Public fund raising?
c. Alumni fund raising?
d. Students fee adjustment?
e. Traffic Calming and Traffic Volume Control devices?
f. Public/students/employees survey to determine the best solution to the funding or traffic or road issues?
2. Can you provide readers with at least four universities in the world especially in third world countries where tolls are charge before access into the campuses? You mentioned Havard and Oxford; none of them charges toll prior to entry.
3. Will it be acceptable for our major public and private places to charge toll before entry into their campuses e.g. Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, KNUST, Cape Vass, Burma Camp, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Obuasi Gold Mine, etc? How about if they or decide to do same as Legon?
4. Will it be acceptable if citizens of a village charges toll after they contribute to construct a bridge or a highway to their village with no government funding?
John Doe 11 years ago

Thank you Pastor.

How about Achimota School - where those lecturers pass? If Achimota imposes tolls will before any Legon lecturer can pass, will it be right?

An Okponglo - tolls before you can come out of Legon onto t ...
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Thank you Pastor.

How about Achimota School - where those lecturers pass? If Achimota imposes tolls will before any Legon lecturer can pass, will it be right?

An Okponglo - tolls before you can come out of Legon onto the Oponglo junction?

Imagine every institution, etc., imposes tolls. The Vice Chancellor of Legon appears to have twisted business logic.
joseph 11 years ago

i hope this good article will educate our mps who appear to lack knowledge.

i hope this good article will educate our mps who appear to lack knowledge.
Michael. Ogbetey 11 years ago

Musah,guess you are a silly Northerner.The whole article mentioned nothing Ewes did.The idea about a toll was not through an Ewe.Northerners had free education because of Nkrumah.How many Ewes do you come across walking naked ...
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Musah,guess you are a silly Northerner.The whole article mentioned nothing Ewes did.The idea about a toll was not through an Ewe.Northerners had free education because of Nkrumah.How many Ewes do you come across walking naked to enjoy those benefits you had
D.Okyere 11 years ago

nice piece keep it up !

nice piece keep it up !
The mask 11 years ago

Change needed.

The university of Ghana remains the primary source of economists and political thought in Ghana. That Ghana should be in this state of affairs is reflective of the failures of Legon.

The premier universit ...
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Change needed.

The university of Ghana remains the primary source of economists and political thought in Ghana. That Ghana should be in this state of affairs is reflective of the failures of Legon.

The premier university of Ghana - The University of Ghana Legon sadly does not appear in the top
500 universities on earth. This must be corrected immediately. The university in order to achieve this must improve:
1) Faculty student ratio
2) The number of research projects it carries out
3) The test scores of its entry class (internationally normalised)
4) Employers' review of performance of its graduates (local and abroad)
5) Peer review by other universities
The Son of Man 11 years ago

Nice piece of argument. Mr Botwe however forgot one thing. Legon is a public institution funded with public money. Same as UCC and KNUST. A public institution cannot turn round and charge the public for access to the camp ...
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Nice piece of argument. Mr Botwe however forgot one thing. Legon is a public institution funded with public money. Same as UCC and KNUST. A public institution cannot turn round and charge the public for access to the campus. That is a no no. A public institution cannot restrict access to facilities such as library, book store and use of campus roads under the guise that they borrowed money and government has not refunded the money. The people are paying their salaries, funding research and other things. Legon cannot use any excuse to charge or restrict access to campus roads. Some of the professors and administrators went to State Universities and Colleges overseas and they are aware no such restrictions apply for State sponsored Colleges. Why do they want to be different. Because it is Ghana and they can?
GEE 11 years ago

...and all these jounalists, politicians, lawyers, doctors, lecturers etc were trained in this university whose council has no commonsense...
Have they heard of the phrase "set a precedent"?
Commonsense tells us that if al ...
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...and all these jounalists, politicians, lawyers, doctors, lecturers etc were trained in this university whose council has no commonsense...
Have they heard of the phrase "set a precedent"?
Commonsense tells us that if allowed, everybody will be paying a toll every block of the country under the pretest of road maintenance.
Kwame 11 years ago

Setting a precedence is what your gov't is lacking except letting lose thieves. Your gov't is shirking it responsibility and instead of being bold and confront him, you deflect the attention to the University. The dons of the ...
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Setting a precedence is what your gov't is lacking except letting lose thieves. Your gov't is shirking it responsibility and instead of being bold and confront him, you deflect the attention to the University. The dons of the University apply sobriety in decision-making about the development of the University and that is what we need as a country and not the populist, politically inclined MPs and Prez who are sending us nowhere. If University authorities can do this with the limited resources at their disposal(visit the campus and see for yourself), they can better govern the nation; except that your own greedy bastards have crowded the landscape and warding away good people. My university in the UK, when you complete your programme, except you join the Alumni association and obtain a card, you cannot enter because the entrance is a revolving door, which only obeys those who use cards to swipe in. If you have no business there you have no access. Think! Let our MPs apply sobriety and not be swayed by the populist movement against the University; bearing in mind that in Ghana, there are some people who make the money and power out of a 'confused' system so they will always go all out to subvert systems that will ultimately benefit the masses.
PASTOR 11 years ago

That is exactly my point: you have no commonsense.

That is exactly my point: you have no commonsense.
Kofi Amponsah 11 years ago

Another piece of hugely opinionated and lousy journalism dwelling on conjecture, emotional appeals, misplaced patriotism to save our heritage, anecdotal knowledge of project funding, etc. There's little demonstration of inter ...
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Another piece of hugely opinionated and lousy journalism dwelling on conjecture, emotional appeals, misplaced patriotism to save our heritage, anecdotal knowledge of project funding, etc. There's little demonstration of interest, never mind Knowledge, of HIGHWAYS and what Ghana's Highway Act says about the status of roads.
Two issues appear missing in the Legon case: Breach of highway act and abuse of local planning rules (if they exist).
I am unsure of our Highway Act but as a former British Colony it would have derived from the UK Highway Act. Under this Act, a road is either Private (unadopted); Public (adopted and maintained at public expense) or Public unadopted. A private road that has been used unrestricted for over 20 years establishes the status of a public unadopted road. As a national institution it is appropriate to believe that Legon roads are public highways maintained at public expense (or even if they were private roads, they would have now become public unadopted streets). Such roads CANNOT be obstructed in any way or form without planning permission.
Now, no argument appears to have been made that Legon had planning permission or approval to erect its toll boots or restrict further use of the roads. If they did, the highway department of the approving body would have requested for a Transport Impact Assessment to ascertain the impact of the proposed closure on traffic on the adjoining road network.
The issue is about roads and rules of engagement, but it appears all the arguments and contributions are based on financing of the project, govt's attitudes to reimbursement, etc. Irrespective of the risks and common sense approaches, what is the position of the law? ...and this is where the Legon argument falls flat.
PASTOR 11 years ago

Thank you, Kofi.

These are the leaders of Ghana... Legon graduates making all these decisions... sad, very sad.

Thank you, Kofi.

These are the leaders of Ghana... Legon graduates making all these decisions... sad, very sad.
KOLIKO 11 years ago

cearly this guy is one of the rented journalists of Ayitee

cearly this guy is one of the rented journalists of Ayitee
Akomfem 11 years ago

Good, lucid, well written and argued article.

Good, lucid, well written and argued article.
santa6 11 years ago

Very well written thoughts... And I prefer paying a toll everyday than 400 Ghana Cedis bam!!!

Very well written thoughts... And I prefer paying a toll everyday than 400 Ghana Cedis bam!!!
Ophelia 11 years ago

I change my perception about the issue after i drove thru campus and also listened to the an interview the VC had on metro....This is proactiveness, u analyse a problem, find solution and take pragmatic steps to solve them an ...
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I change my perception about the issue after i drove thru campus and also listened to the an interview the VC had on metro....This is proactiveness, u analyse a problem, find solution and take pragmatic steps to solve them and i am convince that is exactly what the university has done....Let us wake up!!!mediocrity does pay.
In my second year campus returned frm African Studies lecture one evening to be told that armed robbers had attack our neighbours, raped their daughter, shot the woman and stole from them as well.
Restricted access is necessary for the university to keep both students and staff safe.

Thumps up for u Mr. Botwe
Bernard 11 years ago

Great piece

Great piece
Ivy T 11 years ago

Whatever Legon's intentions are, did they organise some public stakeholder meeting on this??
Must workers on campus pay toe or buy stickers b4 ey go to their work places?? Don't they pay rent and other tariffs?
Must parents ...
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Whatever Legon's intentions are, did they organise some public stakeholder meeting on this??
Must workers on campus pay toe or buy stickers b4 ey go to their work places?? Don't they pay rent and other tariffs?
Must parents whose wards school on campus purchase stickers b4 dropping their wards off at school?
Is UG paying for the land and the other properties it resides on?
What does UG use the foreign students dollars for??
What do they use the fee paying students money for??
I agree with you we need to protect and make better our own but the path UG chose, does not make sense in my own candid opinion...
Elsie 11 years ago

I tried to understand what you typed but I spent more time trying to make your sentences coherent and correcting your spelling. Turn on spell check.

I tried to understand what you typed but I spent more time trying to make your sentences coherent and correcting your spelling. Turn on spell check.
high quality backlinks 11 years ago

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609HnI I really like and appreciate your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.
crorkz 11 years ago

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Comment: The Legon road toll saga - another case of ugly noises?

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