We have a very sick student front in Ghana

The recent strike action by UTAG and POTAG has been on the media landscape. It did really attract a lot of concerns from Ghanaians because we understand that human resource is very paramount to the development of Ghana and therefore should not be compromised. The most hit by the strike action by our lecturers are we the students. It led to abrupt halt of academic activities in our Universities and polytechnics. It did not give students that peace of mind to realize they are in an academic community, and therefore experience no lecturers to guide students in their studies, among others. No wonder some student activists and groups such as the Nurses students’ Union, TEIN, TESCON, SRC and NUGS and the Polytechnic Students Union, vehemently condemned the strike action and lambasted the government with numerous ultimatums over the issue of the strike and that they will resort to demonstrations if nothing is done about it.

What is unfortunate on the side of the students’ front is that, we are completely blind of the issues. Surrounding this strike. The underlying factor is that, the lecturers want to take advantage of the increase of value of the dollar to simply demand more. That government should make up the difference with regards to the current value of dollar, which has sustainably risen as arrears to them. It is not like government is refusing to pay them their salaries as the issue is painted to be. In fact, they are well paid except that they just want more in terms of numerous allowances due them. They blatantly disrespect and disregard the Ghana labour commission so that, they could circumvent rules as academia as they are to suit them to the detriment of poor innocent students. The student front in this times has been sick as it’s been mingled with blindness, selfishness, materialism, among others that is preventing us from analyzing issues with telescopic lenses that are to our own betterment. When we gain admission into our universities and polytechnics in Ghana, it is a sort of contract between you and that institution. They render services to students and students in return, pay dearly for that. Our fees for the first semester of this academic year have been paid yet at a point, lectures are not going on. Some of us are potential lecturers. So if their strike action will enable them to get what they want, then in the near future, it affects we those aspiring to be lecturers. This should not be yardstick to join their course. As students, we need to be nationalistic and patriotic. If the trend in Ghana is always strike action and every worker resort to it, what then are the standards set for our future generations? Lets spend time reflecting upon our role in national development than circuming our integrity and dignity to our lecturers. We should learn to respect ourselves as students.

As students’ front, what we should have done is to demand that, our Universities and polytechnic administrations return to us monies for all the days’ lecturers have not been around to render their services rather than ignorantly blaming government when we all are part of it. Let’s remember that if a student fee is lacking by a penny, he or she shall not be allowed to register meaning an automatic deferment. The fees we pay are partially for the lectures they deliver to us. So if lectures are not going on, why can’t we ask for our monies back? Yes, I think these can be legitimate demands since students deserve to earn the value for the money we pay as fees.

I refute all those youth groups who in their press statements and conferences threatened government with ultimatum and demonstrations. Lecturers are fighting for their own interest with government. As students our paramount interest should be fighting for our right to be lectured. This is because we have paid all our fees to our universities and not government. How then do we issue threats to government? It will be very embarrassing and disgraceful for any youth front to embark on any demonstration because it’s not worth it and therefore unnecessary.

Fellow students, as youth, it’s high time we remain focused and analyze issues critically. When even we are to embark on demonstration to fight for our rights as these lecturers are currently doing, no lecturer would ever speak in favour of us. Why then should we tow along with them in fighting government when in reality it has nothing much to do with students plight except their academic retardation?. There is the need for us to take track of issues of our plight, stand firm and not to be jumping into issues without careful reflections and considerations. We should let our lecturers know that, we demonstrate when it is necessary and their strike action is our back case. All we need is for them to be back in class as they owe us and not anybody else.

Bearing in mind these pertinent issues raised above, we strongly denounce the actions of these student groups that has been miss directed to the government instead of their own lectures who have proven to be self centered and enemies to the student front in recent days. We therefore rather call on the student front to be circumspect in their analysis and interpretation of this particular problem that has the tendency of dooming the youth of tour beloved country as far as their education is concern.

Thank You.

Long Live the Student Front

Long Live Ghana

Dabou Joseph. L (Sly-Joe)

University of Ghana

0246902982

Sly_joe81@yahoo.com