Many are the challenges and problems facing Ghanaian students today. High increment of fees, strike actions continues unabated in the education sector, the abolishment of teacher trainee allowances, inadequate infrastructure to admit S.H.S leavers who qualify into the tertiary institutions just to mention a few.
Forty eight (48) years ago, the National Union of Ghana Student (NUGS) was formed to address issues concerning Ghanaian students.
The Union can boast of nurturing prominent and noble politicians and statesmen like Dr. Arthur Kennedy, Dan Botwe, Totobi-Kwakye, Haruna Iddrisu, and Okudjeto Ablakwa among others who fought for students’ interest and left a legacy for NUGS. Students in Ghana now enjoy policies such as the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the National Service Scheme (NSS) and the likes through the efforts of NUGS.
Today, it saddens my heart to see the Union deviate from its primary objective. NUGS has now turned into a partisan union- NDC, NPP. Election of leaders is now politically influenced, “who is NDC, who is NPP”? Delegates now vote base on political affiliation and not competency of which has brought about a division in the union. There is a saying that, “two captains cannot be on the same ship”; but yet, NUGS in 2011/12 had two presidents- Osman Ayariga faction (NDC) and Peter Kodjie faction (NPP).
Recently, some executives of NUGS have kicked against a decision to award the NPP 2012 presidential candidate Nana Akufo Addo as the Statesman of the Decade (the highest award of the union) following a press release signed by Andrews Kofi Gyan (NUGS President) and Louisa Atta-Agyemang (NUGS General Secretary).
Claiming the decision to confer the award did not follow the laid down procedures enshrined in articles 27(28) and 29 of the NUGS constitution such that most of the executives of the union were not consulted before the decision was taken. Meanwhile, the treasure of the union also claims that the decision to confer the award is politically motivated since both the president and the secretary are NPP members.
Well, we can all see for ourselves the current state of a union that seeks to protect students’ interest.
I felt like the most sensitive part of my soul has been touched when the last paragraph of the aforementioned press statements read: “NUGS through this medium also calls on Government to relinquish the burden imposed on students by the recent rise in utility prices and also water especially at the time that the economy seems to be in a bad shape. We therefore endorse the demonstration of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) to drum home the demand in cutting these unfavorable prices hikes.”
I don’t see anything wrong with NUGS addressing national issues, but as the Gospel of Matthew 7:5 says: “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” The National Union of Ghana Students has failed to take actions with regards to current pertinent issues facing students in our dear country, and yet want to address national issues.
The leadership was silent on the recent UTAG (University Teachers Association of Ghana) strike not to mention the scrapping off of the Teacher Trainee allowances. It’s been more than a month since TEWU (Tertiary Education Workers Union) laid down their tool which is really affecting academic activities in various tertiary institutions, and no attempt has been made by NUGS for address. Kudos to the University Students Union of Ghana (USAG), the various Students Representative Councils, especially the University of Ghana SRC for their efforts during the UTAG strike and that of TEWU which is on-going.
Politicians, stakeholders, opinion leaders, concerned student leaders and activists; posterity will surely not forgive us if we do not uphold, defend, and structure well the legacy of NUGS.
“Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta”.
Long live NUGS, Long live Ghana!!!
