I don't see it as cowArdice.
It's rather all ethnocentric. Ghanas problem is all tribAlism. Ewe/Asante confrontation is one defining all the political and sicial games. Depending on the side you are, you will supoort the to ... read full comment
I don't see it as cowArdice.
It's rather all ethnocentric. Ghanas problem is all tribAlism. Ewe/Asante confrontation is one defining all the political and sicial games. Depending on the side you are, you will supoort the tomfoolery or condemn. Come again. I say Ghanas problem is tribal. The voting pattern is tribal.
BBC NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8 years ago
Nonsense!
Nonsense!
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 8 years ago
Dr Arthur Kennedy, are you not guilty of the very thing you are complaining about? For example, you claim that you have been hearing the same thing on leadership since your student days at OKESS. There were demonstrations as ... read full comment
Dr Arthur Kennedy, are you not guilty of the very thing you are complaining about? For example, you claim that you have been hearing the same thing on leadership since your student days at OKESS. There were demonstrations as NUGS leader and recounted a number of demonstrations that challenged wrong doing in that. Yet, nothing appears to have changed. Interestingly,
you stated, "we do not see such acts anymore", which is suggestive that there should be more demonstrations.
My question is, if decades of demonstrations have not improved leadership and reduced corruption in Ghana, why do you think that more of the same would make a difference this time? Are you one of those who do the same things over time but expect different outcomes?
It is natural that under democracy and rule of law with free media (no matter how weak they are in Ghana), there should be less of demonstrations and more of democratic institutions taking over to deal with weak or bad leadership as well as checking corruption. That is how development evolves and if Ghana after over two decades of constitutional democracy, you expect more demonstrations as a way of resolving problems, then Ghana will continue to stand still.
It's no strange your colleagues in Ghana prefer demonstrations when seeking answers to their problems. Did you hear about the demonstration in Kumasi this week? Too many and too often demonstrations would lead to anarchy and lawlessness. Regular demonstrations are for periods of dictatorship, where there is no free speech and free media, there is police state and therefore the only option is mass action where the dictator/s may find it reprehensible to arrest and detain all the masses at the same time. Your article is self-defeating.
KKO 8 years ago
Kofi,
Do you really believe this theory that demonstrations only work or are sensible under dictatorships and police states? Did Ralph Nader in the US, the Miners’ Unions and CND in the UK in the 1980s, etc, demonstrate ... read full comment
Kofi,
Do you really believe this theory that demonstrations only work or are sensible under dictatorships and police states? Did Ralph Nader in the US, the Miners’ Unions and CND in the UK in the 1980s, etc, demonstrate under police states/dictatorships? Why are young people demonstrating on the streets of London about David Cameron’s tax haven mess?
Although I have never agreed with Arthur Kennedy because of his opportunism and apparent sheer hatred of Nana Akufo-Addo, for once I agree with him on the spinelessness of the main student body of Ghana today.
The main reason for the current parlous state of NUGs stems from the sectarianism and general mediocrity that has engulfed Ghanaian society in recent years, especially under this clueless Mahama government. It actually started under the PNDC when government agents began to influence even SRC elections on the university campuses, to elect leaders that were either amenable or “sympathetic” to them. And the numbers and individuals who held various positions under the PNDC and later NDC governments say it all!
When Mahama’s uses national security to harass his political opponents, and is backed by his “yes men” in Parliament, when NHIS is ruined by corruption and incompetence, when a clearly partisan Electoral Commission is leading Ghana by the nose into violence (and the list can go on), and Parliament is completely powerless to do anything about on behalf of the people, what else can discerning citizens do but to demonstrate?
Demonstrations should not necessarily lead to violence in a civilised society. As a university student in the 1970s, I went on every demonstration in my time and the only time student demonstrations were not met with police/military brutality was under the late Pro Busia’s PP government!
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 8 years ago
KKO, I am not saying that demonstrations are not necessary in democratic society but that regular or frequent demonstrations are unnecessary. Bearing in mind the mentality of the police in Ghana consistent demonstrations are ... read full comment
KKO, I am not saying that demonstrations are not necessary in democratic society but that regular or frequent demonstrations are unnecessary. Bearing in mind the mentality of the police in Ghana consistent demonstrations are most likely to lead to lawlessness in Ghana. Again, demonstrations lead to disruption to others and could be expensive to the state and businesses. Remember the disruptions caused to life when there are demonstrations in the UK.
Akwesi 8 years ago
Please Doc, do you know hating someone without a genuine reason and working against that person is also cowardice.
Please Doc, do you know hating someone without a genuine reason and working against that person is also cowardice.
Mr Bond 8 years ago
Arthur Kennedy,You deserve standing ovation bringing to light as our generation has loss their mojo and not brave enough to rise to demand a stop to president John Dramani Mahama and his terror groups both police and BNI brut ... read full comment
Arthur Kennedy,You deserve standing ovation bringing to light as our generation has loss their mojo and not brave enough to rise to demand a stop to president John Dramani Mahama and his terror groups both police and BNI brutalities against Ghanaian citizens.Arthur Kennedy heart has broke when president John Dramani Mahama deliberately collapse NHIS while patient with NHIS whose tax pays to have access to health care being denial and lose his or her life eventually dead and we stand aloof unconcerned as if nothing has happen and also tolerating president John Dramani Mahama corruption and stealing without any action in the name of given democracy a chance is absolutely nonsense.Both EC and NDC are not given democracy a chance because of over bloated voter register and the refusal to compile credible register.Why should is Ghanaians pathetic and cowardice to resist the oppressor rule who has resort to brutalities,Terror,harassment and silence.Should this Arthur Kennedy Article motivate political parties,pressure groups to use their constitution given right to demonstrate to stop president John Dramani Mahama atrocity,brutality and silencing dictatorship before it get out of hand?The earlier,the better and had I known never comes first but comes at last.A word to the wise is enough.Stop president John Dramani Mahama dictatorship now.
Prof. Issifu, UK 8 years ago
This is a sensible article. Better focus on such articles rather than bashing your own NPP! Your party needs power!
This is a sensible article. Better focus on such articles rather than bashing your own NPP! Your party needs power!
More of these to prick our conscience
I don't see it as cowArdice.
It's rather all ethnocentric. Ghanas problem is all tribAlism. Ewe/Asante confrontation is one defining all the political and sicial games. Depending on the side you are, you will supoort the to ...
read full comment
Nonsense!
Dr Arthur Kennedy, are you not guilty of the very thing you are complaining about? For example, you claim that you have been hearing the same thing on leadership since your student days at OKESS. There were demonstrations as ...
read full comment
Kofi,
Do you really believe this theory that demonstrations only work or are sensible under dictatorships and police states? Did Ralph Nader in the US, the Miners’ Unions and CND in the UK in the 1980s, etc, demonstrate ...
read full comment
KKO, I am not saying that demonstrations are not necessary in democratic society but that regular or frequent demonstrations are unnecessary. Bearing in mind the mentality of the police in Ghana consistent demonstrations are ...
read full comment
Please Doc, do you know hating someone without a genuine reason and working against that person is also cowardice.
Arthur Kennedy,You deserve standing ovation bringing to light as our generation has loss their mojo and not brave enough to rise to demand a stop to president John Dramani Mahama and his terror groups both police and BNI brut ...
read full comment
This is a sensible article. Better focus on such articles rather than bashing your own NPP! Your party needs power!