Busumuru,
I am joining the thousands of Ghanaians who thronged to the Kotoka International Airport to welcome you back into the country. It is unfortunate that, like so many others, prior arrangement did not allow me to be at the airport in person. All the same Ghanaians are happy that you are back. We are proud of you and your achievements. We have all directly or indirectly benefited from your hardworking. As the euphoria surrounding your presence into the country continues, I entreat you to enjoy every bit of it. You deserve it more than anything else.
When everything is over, I guess you would be thinking of your next move in life. There are a number of opportunities available to you. For example, you could run to be the president of Ghana, even though before you make up your mind NDC’s Asiedu Nketia is warning you to stay away from that area. You could also be a consultant to the United Nations, United States, UK or any other country. Another area is philanthropy, probably by teaming up with Ex-President Clinton of US to raise funds for AIDS research. Being an advisor to the Government of Ghana could also be an option.
While all these and many others are financially rewarding, I personally feel that you should consider taking up a teaching appointment with the University of Ghana, Legon, possibly at either the School of Administration or the Department of Political Science. You have acquired so much knowledge and experience that you cannot but to impart it to the next generation of Ghanaians. Be like the proverbial wise old man sitting under the tree in the center of the village teaching children and telling them stories. Come to the level of the “children”, let them touch and feel you, ask you questions, learn from you and challenge them to dream and seek higher laurels.
Being a member of Legon’s faculty would invariably “VAT” the credentials of the institution, that is you would add value to the institution’s credentials. Legon would list your name among its prominent faculty and boast to the world that it has renowned and proven faculty with international repute including that of a former UN Secretary General, Busumuru Kofi Annan. Legon would never be the same.
Your presence at Legon and involvement in fund raising activities would help the University to raise funds for research and undertake physical projects that would make it stand on its feet as an institution of higher learning. You know that your name now commands “agoogyi” in that you have easy access to heads of states, financial institutions that matter, foundations that deliver and individuals who are financially able. Help Legon attract the necessary funding for its projects and programs.
If you joined Legon’s faculty, it would not be for the financial remuneration but for the love of your country. The UN has already settled you so that the little that Legon would give to you would be for taxi fares. In its stead Legon would probably name its Political Science Department after you or perhaps with your help set up a Graduate School of Public Service along the lines of that of New York University (NYU) which has some form of relationship with Legon. I am talking about Wagner School of Public Service, which invited you sometime to give a public lecture while you were at the UN. Thus Legon would have something like Kofi Annan’s Graduate School of Public Administration or Kofi Annan School of Public Service.
Your presence at Legon would encourage the Institution to consider hiring or harnessing the experience and expertise of retired African Heads of States. How do you see Legon boasting of personalities like Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Abdulaye Wale of Senegal, Ahidjo of Cameroon and Kenya’s Arap Moi on its faculty? You can add Obasanjo of Nigeria who is coming out in May 2007 and Ghana’s JAK in 2009. Imagine graduate students discussing military coup detats in Africa with Ghana’s Flt Lt (rtd) Jerry Rawlings and Nigeria’s Generals (rtd) Buhari, Babangida and Abubakar in an academic setting. What about Mugabe of Zimbabwe defending his land tenure system with graduate students at Legon? Do you not think that you would be able to bring William Jefferson Clinton of USA along? This would “set Legon on fire” and future African and other world leaders, diplomats, public servants and administrators would descend on the prestigious Kofi Annan School of Public Service for their graduate studies.
I am also looking at such a School, in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the UN, organizing orientation classes for in-coming African Heads of States and Cabinet Ministers and refresher courses for those on duty. The School would be a resource center for students of African politics as both academia and heads of states donate books, pamphlets and other literature of significance to its library. It could organize seminars for presidential aspirants.
Kofi, take the lead and they would follow. You or any of the heads of states do not have to teach for an academic year. A semester or some two/three days would be more than enough. I hate to be told that it has never been done elsewhere so it is not possible. I know of ex Vice-President Al Gore of US, who immediately after his failed bid to the presidency, took up teaching appointment with Columbia University in New York City. At least let Legon add your name to its faculty to attract the necessary attention and funding.
Busumuru, remember, you have not actually worked in Ghana. All your adult and working life has been with the UN. Your children, nephews, nieces, grand/great grand children and all others are waiting in the classroom for you. Beema, take the Chalk and let the “apo” flow.
Sincerely Yours,
OPANIN KWABENA MENSAH
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