It is rather pathetic that a widely and loudly touted purported man of integrity like President John Evans Atta-Mills, dead-set on hanging onto power, should be so facilely tempted to literally play to the gallery on the admittedly critical issue of having university colleges established in the Volta and Brong-Ahafo regions. And here must be briefly recalled that in his third – and one fervently hopes, his penultimate – State-of-the-Nation Address on February 17, 2011, the President categorically indicated that within the meteorically short space of seven months, starting from September 1, 2011, both the Volta and Brong-Ahafo regions would have fully operational specialized university colleges.
Now, with barely a month to go before the deadline for the realization of these electioneering promises, the residents of the two concerned regions and, in fact, Ghanaians in general are being told that, after all, President Mills and his minions did not even half-appreciate the full implications of Tarkwa-Atta’s too-good-to-be-true promises (See “Govt’s Promise to Build Volta University is on Course – Prof. Dedeh” MyJoyOnline.com 8/2/11).
It is rather a pity and unpardonably scandalous that a widely recognized legal maven like President Mills had not anticipated the legal, logistical, personnel and curricular implications of establishing a university college worthy of such designation and reputation. And, to be certain, no one can blame Tarkwa-Atta either; for as a fanatical Nkrumaist, the man has spent most of his time lavishly gussying up the effectively moribund pseudo-socialist and dictatorial Ghanaian past in memory of his political idol and hero than foresightedly strategizing for the critical and massive development of the country.
Needless to say, had he bothered to read up on the historical foundation of Ghana’s flagship academy, the University of Ghana, of which he is an alumnus, the former Legon tax-law professor would have learned to his own intellectual and moral edification and enrichment, as well as the eternal glory of the path-paving Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah, that real universities are not built in seven months, especially in a situation where absolutely no statutory instruments and capital provisions have been put in place.
Interestingly, those of you who regularly read this column may vividly recall that in my three-part analysis of President Mills’ State-of-the-Nation Address in February or early March this year, I raised the same questions that are now being raised, nearly a half-year later. At the time, I even remember describing the proposed Volta and Brong-Ahafo universities as veritable “Propaganda Universities,” to the quite understandable horror of one writer who claimed to be the secretary of a Brong-Ahafo Youth Association.
It is also rather disingenuous to hear Prof. Sefa Dedeh, of the University of Ghana, presume to off-handedly lecture understandably disaffected resident of the Volta Region and, indeed, the nation at large, on the logistical intricacies entailed in the establishment of a reputable university college: “I think we need to assure the people of the Volta Region and all concerned that the promise of [the] government to establish the university is on course. There is a process we need to follow and I can understand their frustration [in] wanting to see the first batch of students come in [;] but I would rather we have 300 students with very happy lecturers working in an environment that fosters academic learning [sic]. We should not just rush to admit students into some temporary structures and start something to create confusion.”
Some levelheaded citizen had better remind Prof. Sefa Dedeh that it is precisely the opposite of the sort of confusion that he appears to be genuinely poised to avoiding that President Mills’ attempt to curry favor, as well as score cheap political points with residents of the Volta Region, has engendered.
What is even more insulting, to hear Prof. Sefa Dedeh retail the same, is that the rhapsodic fanfare that accompanied President Mills’ sod-cutting, supposedly marking the commencement of construction work at the designated site for the Volta University, was, after all, just an April Fool’s hoax. “In the light of the issues about landownership, we have recommended that this land should be purchased outright and the university should own titled to the land.” Anyway, who are these NDC high school pretenders to governance expertise trying to fool?
And maybe someone ought to remind Mr. Mahama Ayariga, the Deputy Education Minister, that, indeed, it is alright for the latter to vehemently insist that President Mills is deeply “committed to establishing the universities, as the sod-cutting ceremony clearly proves his desire to see the projects come into [sic] fruition.” The glaring fact of the matter is that the last time that I checked, “Commitment” was not an edible product in any grocery store around the globe. Simply put, you cannot eat commitment!
Mr. Ayariga also needs to let on more about his alleged “Chinese partners” who are helping to underwrite the two projects, especially precisely what these astute and business savvy Asian investors are getting in return. Then also, the Ghanaian citizen and voter needs to know exactly how much was earmarked for these major projects in the 2011 GETFund budget. To tell you the truth, dear reader, I am not holding my breath.
Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D., is Associate Professor of English, Journalism and Creative Writing at Nassau Community College of the State University of New York, Garden City. He is a Governing Board Member of the Accra-based Danquah Institute (DI) and author of “Ghanaian Politics Today” (Lulu.com, 2008).
E-mail: okoampaahoofe@optimum.net