The University of Ghana Road Saga: My Perspective

Many views have been expressed on the current problem regarding the usage of roads at the University of Ghana. Some support the university in limiting the usage of its roads by the public. Others, including former students of the university, have castigated the logic behind the university's decision so I have also taken a stance to write in support of the university.

In the first place, why do critics refer to the roads as University of Ghana roads? The answer is simple. The roads belong to the University of Ghana, not the public. They are university roads. The line of thinking that the university is government funded/owned and for that matter the public can have unlimited access to its properties, including its roads, is without logic. If that were the case, why can't anyone simply walk into any of the university's hall of residence and demand a room for personal usage?

The University of Ghana was established in 1948 as a public university with SELF-GOVERNING status. It used to have the inscription- PRIVATE PROPERTY- at the main entrance of the university. What this means is that the administration of the university, as well as its properties, have been placed exclusively in the university. As a result, the administrators have the right to regulate and control who comes into the university and who goes out. It has the right to control vehicular traffic on the university campus. The university hospital, police station, and roads can be used by the public at the discretion of its administrators only. It built new halls of residence in partnership with the private sector, not the Government. In the same way, it can contract a loan to rehabilitate or construct new roads and regulate how those roads are used.

I have read from many contributors on GhanaWeb that they have attended the University of Ghana and other universities in the United States and Great Britain, and none of these universities of these countries have prevented vehicles entering their campuses. These arguments are partially true but lack strength. Such arguments lend themselves to fallacies of combination. The fact that university 'A' or 'B' allows any vehicle into its campus does not mean that university 'C' should do likewise.

That line of reasoning is faulty, because the type of transportation system in Ghana-trotros and taxis-is different from those in the advanced countries referenced. Moreover, laws work in those countries; they do not in Ghana. One cannot compare law enforcement in Ghana with England or the U.S.A. I am ashamed to say that Ghana is lawless, compared with these two countries. I do not think that any university in the world would allow the massive vehicular traffic Legon is experiencing on its campus, especially with the level of lawlessness associated with the Ghanaian driver.

The painful truth is that nothing works well in Ghana. Armed robbers have taken over the country. The police system is broken and the courts are weak, not to talk of the fact that leaders are without vision.

A country with visionary leadership would have provided better alternative routes to users of the Legon-Madina road, taking into consideration vehicular traffic on that road and also the safety and security of the university students and staff, before making the decision whether or not to use the campus as detour. There is complete lack of patriotism; thus a country with almost all conceivable resources and brilliant scholars who cannot use their knowledge to advance the country. So miserable is the country that it cannot even provide basic water and electricity to its citizens. And yet, the leaders award themselves with gold medals and feel so satisfied with life. We need to close down the country, think, think, and think! Blame the government, not the University of Ghana. Is the University of Ghana campus the best alternative to use by drivers coming from and going to Madina, Aburi, Odumasi Krobo, Dodowa, Akropong, Larteh, Mamfe, Dome, etc.?

SOKPO WAYOE