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OFFICE OF ATIEMO PAUL - KNUST

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When a bell rings, it insinuates a CALL TO DUTY.

When the time for ACCOUNTABILITY nears, PREPAREDNESS to respond in DILIGENCE reaches a CRESCENDO.

With DETERMINATION, great battles were WON.

Mutatis Mutandis, the STRENGTH sourced from our MAKER makes EASY our QUEST for a resounding SUCCESS.

Let us in this moment of EXAMINATION demonstrate our commitment to SKYROCKET our INTEGRITY in ACADEMIA through DILIGENCE and HARD WORK.

Wishing you GOOD HEALTH and INVIOLABLE SUCCESS in your exams.

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E WICH – THE KILLER CARD

The introduction of the E-zwich smart card, as a means of limiting physical cash involvement in transactions as well as enhancing safety in making payments was hailed as a brilliant idea nationwide.

Subsequently, to gain the market and encourage usage by this generation and the next, students especially those at the tertiary were coerced to sign on to the E-zwich smart card, as acquisition of the card is a pre-requisite to accessing the Students’ Loan and other students’ related stipend.

In the course of time, the National Service Secretariat also announced to all ‘fresh graduates’ to as well sign on to the e- zwich card since their monthly stipend would be paid via that card.

With students as the immediate and largest market of the E-zwich card services, the transactional tariffs associated with usage of the E-zwich card is overly expensive and outrageous. That is, despite the meager sums paid unto the E-zwich card as stipend, an amount of GHc0.75 is charged per transaction of an amount up to GHc90 whilst approximately GHc1.50 is charged per transaction of money involving GHc200 etc.

Furthermore, the high fees associated with withdrawals also extend to deposits made unto the E-zwich card i.e. payments made unto the card attract same charges as withdrawal fees stated above, making charges in operating an E- zwich card dual. In summery, approximately one-hundredth (1/100^th) of whatever amount is deposited unto an E-zwich card is charged as tariff at deposit and withdrawal, besides an online upload fee of GHc0.50. Conclusively, money paid unto the E-zwich smart card is devalued.

With these exorbitant charges, one would have hoped for improved and progressive services with respect to the E-zwich card ussage. Unfortunately, that is not the situation, as very few Points of Sale Centers are available throughout the whole country.

Notwithstanding the poor services but high tariffs characterized with usage of this ‘killer card’, it is bitterly a pre-requisite to accessing funds in the areas of Students’ Loan and National Service stipends, without which you would be denied funds in this regard. Moreover,public service workers and civil servants shall soon be paid via this E- zwich card.  An instance which has the tendency of escalating the already aggravated and repugnant difficulties associated with current users of the ‘killer cards’ (E-zwich card).

In view of this, I want to sincerely appeal to the Students’ Loan Trust Fund Secretariat (SLTF), the National Service Secretariat (NSS) as well as other related organizations in the business of giving loans to students, to make open their mode of funds transfer to persons under their scope, so as to enable beneficiaries of their services avoid the frustration and irrelevant high charges associated with usage of the ‘killer cards’/E-zwich smart card.

In conclusion, if managers of this ‘killer cards’ (E-zwich smart cards) wants people to ‘vampire’, they should turn their attention to different persons, perhaps the well to do in society and not poor students who mainly depend on meager loans and stipends. Again, the Bank of Ghana or whichever the supervising authority is, should step up efforts to ensure efficiency in service delivery by the Ghana Inter Bank Payment Settlement System (managers of the ‘killer cards’ or E-zwich cards) as value for money is sunken.

The truth shall be said at all times, damn the consequences. We shall overcome!

THE THEORY OF DIABOLIC HYPOCRICY – LEADERS OF AMNESIA

Like an annual mundane practice, the keys of the Yutong bus with number plate ‘STUDENTS’and passengers as KNUST students is handed over to a new crop of persons to chauffer it to a desired destination, i.e. fulfillment of campaign promises.

Sadly, with the start of an academic year long of leadership (journey), one begins to notice histrionic signs of recklessness and deliberate running of the Yutong bus into ‘well holes’ contrary to trust, prudence and a promise of carte blanche to students in academic excellence.

Such only makes one to wonder if the Yutong bus driver (leaders) have so soon developed amnesia as they head directly opposite in defiance to the very principles they once by tooth and nail defended. Coming events they say cast their shadow.

As defense to their shortfalls, reference is desperately made to variation of assumption to reality and the fact that very little can be done to muscle management to be in tune with their mantra of moderation.

Ironically, these propagandists overlook the fact that there has been persons of similar capacity before them; who lived up to the challenge of amnesia bringing afore their virtues.

Contrary to the basic facts of reality and common sense, although students are distinctively surcharged a fee for the upkeep of the campus library, books at the library have for over a decade remained old fashioned whilst visible signs of progress at the facility as well have remained stunt. Notwithstanding, the SRC without questions succumbed to the upward review or sustenance of such charges.

Again, although the SRC Development fund as charged students is purportedly purposed for the progressive construction of the ‘forever stand still’ SRC hostel, charge per admission into the SRC hostel remains relatively high than the average student can afford. Furthermore, the SRC hostel has become a facility to freely house persons loyal to the SRC leadership as the cost is passed over to the student to shoulder. WHY SHOULD WE SUFFER IN OUR OWN MOTHERLAND?

Furthermore, whilst for over a decade, Residential Facility User Fees (RFUF) has consistently been reviewed upwards, history indicates situations of water shortage in these halls of residence.

What then is the agenda for such heartless increment as over the years no visible attempt is made to avert such situations.

 Again, with the consistent upward review of ICT fees, characterized with a pledge of excellent ICT services to students, the famous ‘NO BROWSING TODAY, LINK IS DOWN’ chalked notice, mostly displayed by the ICT center’s management has never eluded users (students) of the facility. At worse, although students in the art faculty pay ICT dues just like every other student of KNUST, persons in this faculty officially are never given a pass (email address eg. Kenwood.cass, which is assigned every student during registration) to enable them freely benefit from their commitment, due to their mode of registration. Until such trivial excuses meant to deny students from freely using the ICT center become a thing of the past, just as frantic steps are made towards ensuring value for money, an upward review of any sort with respect to such fee is irrelevant and constitutes an act of extortion.  

Mutatis Mutandis, an upward review of fees may be relevant provided that payees (students) get value for money. By this, it behooves the SRC to compel the Institutional authority to hold on to their end of the bargain, after all, if downward review of fees is never an option, satisfaction without qualms to students must be paramount.

In anticipation of hope, it is rumored that even when the institutional authority sees no reason for an upward review in fees, the SRC incorrigibly ruse and rile them against all odds for a pretext to by a ‘wee’ percentage increase SRC dues.

Realising their errors, the cover up agenda is set in motion as the SRC with the backing of some undercover institutional heads, refuse to make public its budget(s) and audited report(s) to the student populace in violation of the SRC constitution from which they (SRC) source their mandate.

To cow us into submission, arguments are then advanced indicating that students in the Public Universities pay far less compared to those in the Private Universities hence the need to gradually adjust until a balance is reached. Trivial as this argument may be, such analysts overlook the fact that the total population of fee paying students, as well as international students admitted into one Public University out number the total population of about five Private Universities put together. Hence, the pull of funds owned by each public university, at a go could be used to achieve much more in reference to basic economic and marketing principles, i.e. high consumption attracts relatively lower cost.

With the annual upward review of dues and fees by the SRC and Institutional Authority respectively; notwithstanding the absence of  visible accomplishment but the fattening of our leaders, the Pandora box opens, giving locus to the Departments, Faculties, Associations and all other de-facto groups to as well without justification skyrocket and stockpile their respective dues in vain. Justice is deformed.

The truth shall be said at all times damn the consequences, we shall overcome.

‘COTE D’IVOIRE’ IN NUGS – BETRAYAL OF TRUST (PART 2)

Indeed by all standards, the current crop of leadership in the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) have not lived as expected, but the pulling out or disassociation from the National Union of Ghana Students (as exemplified by the Christian Service University College- CSUC), and the sheer chastisement and chorusing of our resentment is not the ultimate in the rebuilding of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS). Rather, we all (students in Ghana) should see ourselves as having a visible role to play in the rebuilding process.

Like the reason for which most people take in alcohol (running away from problems or the mess created by them, only for them to wake up to the very problem they created), the breakaway or disassociation from the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) by its component institutions as exemplified by the CSUC is not the best way out. As ‘men’ the component institutions of the NUGS must be bold and confront the situation at hand, having in mind that whatever the situation, it was created by man and as such it will take ‘men’ along with consistent diplomacy and genuine action and inaction to rebuild the NUGS and regain the confidence of the Ghanaian student populace.

Furthermore, the leadership of the NUGS and all interested in seeing change must be the change they expect to see in the NUGS. For the NUGS will reflect its membership.

Many a time, persons who assume leadership in the NUGS are oriented and made to believe that the politician or government is the enemy to educational progress in Ghana; forgetting that such persons (politicians) have once been students and truly know the essence and influence of education and its associated Unions, notwithstanding the amnesia developed by them with regard to the needs and difficulty associated with education and students.

Rather than being enlightened contrary to the blatant fallacy above that, the real enemy of the Ghanaian student and education is the lack of adequate infrastructure on our campuses, the fact of Senior High School (SHS) students running shifts to attend dinning, poor WASSCE and BECE results, late payment of Students Loan, studies under trees especially in the rural areas, strike action by lecturers, late payment of the allowances of the National Service personnel, attempt by policy makers or drafters to overlook the contribution of students in nation building, inter alia.

Mutatis Mutandis, in the quest of the NUGS to draw the attention of such policy makers to the welfare of students, attempts will be made to gag the NUGS, for such, all will appreciate it when available legitimate means is used to ‘speak the language’ policy makers will understand. By this, it will be right that some politicians are named and attacked in the interest of over 20,000 students in Ghana

Questions were raised as to what the author expects of the NUGS referencing part one of this article. Well, it’s simple:

        i.            Unity at the leadership front of the NUGS.

      ii.            That the NUGS make a detour to its primary duty as stated by the NUGS constitution (making the concerns of students their own).

    iii.            That the NUGS should live up to its reputation and make visible its essence.

The ECOWAS and the African Union, in resolving the situation in Cote d’ivoire (where there exist two presidents) have so far opted for diplomacy thereby supposedly exonerating our president Prof. J.E.A. Mills.

For the NUGS, in dealing with the problem of dual presidents, radical diplomacy ought to be adopted and applied. Thus, the two presidents – Hamza Suhuyini and Abotsi Afriyie Anthony, taking into consideration the situation at hand and the fact of the controversy and stalemate with regard to the presidency and for the sake of the Ghanaian student and the need to preserve heritage, and the fact that the action of the CSUC may trigger a domino effect, both parties (Hamza and Abotsi) should step down; paving way for the Secretary to act until congress and handing over is done, lest we preempt double congress this year to elect two sets of executives for the next academic year.

Moreover, there should be a truce and a modus vivendi between the contending parties with the Central Committee of the NUGS as a witness, appreciating and recognizing that both were once presidents of the NUGS.

In conclusion, the society at large may look on arms folded, perhaps on the pretext that the issues as pertain to the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) is inferior to the urgent national issues. Truly, if this impasse of the NUGS should continue and all looks unconcerned, society would wish to turn back the arms of time to this particular day where the issues of the NUGS is at its rudimentary stages and only wish to have done something  about it.

Like the story involving the Frankenstein monster, the overlooked problems of the NUGS will come back to haunt us all. Anyway, that’s the African way of solving problems.

Again, if the alumni of the NUGS play the role of biblical Pontius Pilate (keeping mute and away from the NUGS), they should remember that quite as they are today, their names will eternally be echoed and known to posterity that they (alumni) sat arms folded when the NUGS was being destroyed or in turmoil.

All hands must be on deck to instill sanity in the NUGS. Starting the rebuilding process, the British style of student activism (‘dzi wo fie asem’ – mind your own business) is preferred until such a time that the union is emboldened to facsimile the American, French and German style of students activism (influencing national and international policies as well as the welfare of its members).

Long live Student Activism

Long live the NUGS

COTE D’IVOIRE IN NUGS – BETRAYAL OF TRUST (PART 1)

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) over the years have experienced leadership of various forms including radicals, conservatives, the British style of student activism (concentration of attention on the welfare of its members) and the American, French and German style(influencing national and international policies as well as welfare of its members).

Sadly, the current crop of leadership of the NUGS could be labeled as one characterized with personal interests, character assassination and above all the struggle for power.

Unlike the days of recent past, where the NUGS was revered and viewed as dread in terms of influencing national policies and championing avant-garde ideas, same cannot be said of the dual president led NUGS today. This makes us fondly remember the days of the Arthur Kennedy, Dan Botwe, Haruna Idrissu,Omane Boamah, etc.

Just as prevails in Cote d’Ivoire, where there exist two presidents and two cabinets, same can also be said of the NUGS which also has two presidents – Hamza Suhuyini and Anthony Abotsi Afriyie.

During the 44^thcongress of the NUGS at Wa, Anthony Abotsi Afriyie was elected as President of the NUGS to succeed Wonder Madilo. Interestingly, a Vote of No Confidence was passed on him at an emergency congress organized for that purpose, implying his removal from office.

On the 23^rd of December, 2010, the very body which passed the Vote of No Confidence on Anthony Abotsi Afriyie organized another emergency congress and elected the runner up to Abotsi Afriyie at the Wa congress (Hamza Suhuyini) to be its leader.

Ironically, Abotsi Afriyie and a supposed Judicial Committee declared the congress as unconstitutional and as a result, Abotsi still holds himself as President of the NUGS and accordingly speaks for the student populace in Ghana; contrary to the assertion of another faction within the NUGS which recognizes Hamza Suhuyini as its legitimate leader.

Whatever, all theses is happening whilst the business of student activism or interest is abandoned.

Recently, Joy FM broadcasted an instance where a 17 year old Junior High School (JHS) student was being forced into marriage against her will of schooling and yet the NUGS whose constitutional duty it is to advocate and protect the interest of students was loudly silent over the issue.

Again, whilst parliament was considering and subsequent passage of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill into law, and there was the need to advocate an allocation of the oil revenue towards education, the NUGS was docile.

Whilst there is the need for the NUGS to make informed contributions towards the review process of the Get Fund for consideration by the parliament. The NUGS is once more loudly silent.

There is always delay in the release or payment of Students Loan by the Students Loan Trust Fund secretariat and as a result students are forced to struggle over a period to survive and yet it’s not the beeswax of the NUGS.

When the issue of imaginary termination point of our education system was tabled for discussion by Dr. Paa Kwesi Induom and comprehensively deliberated upon at a Joy FM morning show, the NUGS once more was silent. An issue that required attention and a stance by the NUGS, taking into consideration the quality of students churned out by the Ghanaian educational system.

Many more can be cited referencing the docile attitude of the National Union Of Ghana Students (NUGS) amidst duty call.

If the NUGS cannot act out the American, French and German style of student activism  which is associated with influencing national and international policies and as well pursue the interest of its members, going by the British style characterized with “di wo fie asem”- mind your own business, must be the priority of the NUGS.

The poverty of inaction amidst duty call can no longer be tolerated. Above all, the current situation of the NUGS is a complete betrayal of trust and an absolute breach of the social contract that students in Ghana have with them.As a result, there is the need for the NUGS to live up to its reputation, prescribed by the Constitution of the NUGS, primarily, championing the interest of students.

If the situation as pertain to Cote d’Ivoire where there exist two presidents and each considering himself as legitimate, is a headache to the world. That of the NUGS where there also exist two presidents (Anthony Abotsi Afriyie and Hamza Suhuyini) is an unwanted scar and a shame to the cooperate student body politic.

Such scenes of power struggle and subsequent escalation of the internal wrangling must be made a thing of the past.

In all of these, the current leadership of the NUGS may consider itself as working or better put doing its best. Hear us out, your best is not enough and as such, there is room for improvement. Furthermore, the leadership of the NUGS must know that students in Ghana are not interested in hearing or assuming that they are working, rather, we are interested in feeling your actions at our places of abode as students.

In conclusion, the alumni of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) should come afore to help mediate and bring to an end this impasse of dual presidency NUGS. That is, they should complement the prayers of the students in Ghana to remove the wools covering the eyes of their successors to enable them be opened to reality.

Furthermore, the leadership of the NUGS must know that there is a Heritage to preserve regardless of the exigencies of the time. Therefore, it is imperative that they handle the Union with care just as they came to meet it, if they intend not add up to it.

Besides, it must be clear to them that, the NUGS is not a platform to satisfy the whims and caprices of their partisan political masters against the interest of the over 20,000 students in Ghana.

INJECT 30% OF OIL REVENUE INTO THE GETFUND

Since news broke on the discovery of oil in commercial quantities, to the turning on of the valve by the President and the introduction of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill (PRMB) in Parliament.

Debate on how the oil revenue should be utilized has pointed to one direction, emphasizing the need for massive infrastructural development (roads and housing) in the country as well as the creation of jobs, inter alia.

Imperative as the need for massive infrastructural development and the creation of jobs would be, the panacea to the sustenance of all of these is EDUCATION.

The history of our former twin country, Malaysia suggests that their level of development was accelerated by 3 things i.e.  EDUCATION, EDUCATION, and EDUCATION. Something that Ghana has for a long time failed to acknowledge and prioritize.

Sadly, when the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill was introduced to Parliament, topical of debate on the subject matter centered on the need to collateralize an aspect of the oil revenue to contract loans for investment in infrastructure, whilst investment in Education was relegated to the background. Perhaps the budget allocation towards education is deemed enough irrespective of the shortfalls associated with our education system.

Besides, when the President Prof. J. E. A. Mills was inaugurating the oil commercialization, he loudly muted in his speech the need for investment in education, perhaps on the pretext that, all could not be mentioned in that short while. Either way, I believe that just as he highlighted on the pending populist accomplishments of the God bless gift (oil), he equally could have briefly touched on the need for an educational role as priority.

Three days post the inauguration, the Vice President, at the 10^th congregation of Takoradi Polytechnic, gracefully suggested the need to re classify the Polytechnics to take their rightful position, however, he openly acknowledged that there was pressure on the GET fund and as a result Education has lagged behind. 

Furthermore, in a nation where a state institution (National Labor Commission) through negligence could halt tertiary education for a period summing 8 weeks, on the bases of minor education expenses and dinning halls in some Senior High Schools turned to dormitories as a result of lack of facilities to accommodate the students; one could without a slip in thought or deed overlook the need for a special allocation of the oil revenue towards education.

Willy-nilly, the highly technical expertise of the oil management shall be imported whilst the laborer’s job would be executed by the majority of Ghanaians employed in this sector. Indeed, media reports suggest that out of the 100 employees spotted on the tarmac (at the time the president was turning on the valve), approximately 25 were Ghanaians whilst the remaining were foreigners.

With education relegated to the background, one should expect nothing but the above scene. Neo-colonialism as Dr. Kwame Nkrumah puts, shall come to play here and in the end, I guess close to 80% if not more of the oil wealth would be expunged out of the country. 

The above I believe aver the need for a special allocation of the oil revenue (say30%) for Educational purposes. Such a quota I propose should be injected into the GET fund for the purposes of education upgrading in Ghana. Moreover, the mandate of the GET fund should be broadened to as well emphasize the construction of classroom blocs especially at the rural areas. Such a move I guess will aid the accomplishment of government’s desire to abolish the shift system (prevalent at the Primary, JHS level) and studies under trees.

Notwithstanding, if we as a nation would pursue the Import Substitution Policy as suggested by the Dependency theorists in  Development (where in the short run, importation of foreign expertise is recommended as we seek to train our own as substitute to the foreign expertise in the long run) then education ought to be paramount in terms of investment.

The Western Region Chiefs (sometime last year) at the time of introduction and discussion of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill requested 10% of the oil revenue for developmental purposes in the western region and in fulfillment to a promise made by the Vice President, H. E. John Dramani Mahama. In like manner, I guess it wouldn’t be wrong if the nation should conscientiously allocate at least 30% of the oil revenue towards education.

By this, I want to call on Hon. Haruna Iddrissu, Hon. Maxwell Kofi Dwumah as well as Hon. Samuel Okudjeto (all former NUGS Presidents), Hon. Balado Manu, Hon. Alex Tetteh Enyoh, Hon. Dan Botwe and all lovers of education in both the house of Parliament and the cabinet to champion the introduction of a clause in the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, seeking the allocation and injection of at least 30% of the oil revenue into the Get fund for the purposes of Education upgrading in Ghana.

I as well want to call on the Student Unions in Ghana (NUGS and GNUPS) to step up efforts in ensuring that a specific clause is introduced in the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, allocating a minimum of 30% of the oil revenue towards education upgrading in Ghana before the final passage of the bill to law. In so doing, I believe your reputation of championing the desires of Ghanaian students would bring to bear your efficacy.

In conclusion, for our beloved nation (Ghana) to solidify its status as a Low Income Middle Economy, one area that must not be overlooked is reduction in the nation’s illiteracy and functional illiteracy rate which stands currently at approximately 38% and 41% respectively. This, against all odds can only be achieved when Education is prioritized.

To our President, Prof. J. E. A. Mills, regardless of the criticisms leveled against you overtly and covertly, I believe posterity and students in Ghana will eternally be grateful to you if an allocation of at least 30% oil revenue is injected into the Get fund for Education upgrading.

Reflections on the POTAG, UTAG strike

Following the loss of five productive weeks, it came as a big surprise hearing that the National Labor Commission (NLC) with Mr. Edward Biriku-Boadu, as the Executive Secretary, had been told by the courts that the industrial action embarked upon by the POTAG (Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana) was legitimate contrary to the NLC’s assertion.


To start with, we must ask ourselves why it took the courts to tell the Labor Commission that the course of the POTAG was legitimate and had to further appeal to POTAG to call off their strike as due process would be followed.


When the UTAG (University Teachers Association of Ghana) commenced its strike, one of the first statements that dominated the media scene was that, the industrial action as embarked upon by the UTAG was an illegal one and as such they ought to call off their protest.


Ironically President J.E.A. Mills intervened through the Prof. Asabre committee’s report presented to the President by Wednesday, 20th October, 2010 (which was just two days to the 21 days deadline after which the Universities would have closed down).


The Labor Commission, notwithstanding the initiative as stated above (involving the UTAG), stood their grounds and initiated court proceedings against POTAG on the pretext that their authority was being challenged per section 172 of the labor act.


It was sad indeed, to have heard the Executive Secretary of the Labor Commission a day after the court ruling, indicating that the judge was right and as such there is no need to appeal the judgment.


Truly, its uncalled for, that our leaders or persons put in places of trust, should make such mistakes ranging from subjecting an entire population (the polytechnics) through an unwarranted trauma, to the loss of 5 productive weeks which is tantamount to the popular ‘causing financial loss to the state’ law and political mantra.


Perhaps the state should quantify in monetary terms, the value of the 5 lost productive weeks for the POTAG and 3 weeks loss by the UTAG and I guess such ‘sunk cost’ incurred would have added a few more classrooms to the 175 constructed by the government as mentioned in the budget statement to parliament.


Should it always take the presidency to directly intervene in an impasse? Definitely not! Perhaps we are going directly opposite the inspirational statement made by the U.S. President Barrack Obama on his ‘glorious’ visit to Ghana, i.e. ‘…Africa does not need strong leaders rather, strong institutions’. I believe that, institutional heads must directly be made responsible for their actions and inactions and not to ‘robe inn’ other institutions in solving problems they have been tasked to perform. Until then, we shall remain stack where we are in terms of development.


Another issue of concern is, should the Executive especially the Education Minister be blamed, as advocated by a section of the Polytechnic fraternity? To me it’s simply NO!


Who knows, the Executive throughout the period opted to being silent (notwithstanding the backstage talks) seeking to guard against contempt of court or being prejudicial.


On the other hand, why did they (the Executive) listen to the misinformation of Mr. Edward Biriku-Boadu the Executive Secretary of the Labor Commission? Could they not have delved into the issue and unravel the truth just as was witnessed in the case of the UTAG?


Furthermore, the Labor Commission’s secretariat under the leadership of Mr. Edward Biriku-Boadu (the Executive Secretary) have in one way or the other failed the nation in his approach especially toward the recent strikes involving the POTAG and the UTAG.


Yes, it’s crystal clear without any taint that Mr. Edward Biriku-Boadu, the Executive Secretary of the Labor Commission in handling such serious issues as labor unrest has performed below average and as such must honorably resign for the sake of the high office he occupies.


I say this referencing a statement I heard him make on the 12th November 2010, post the court ruling, calling on the Labor fraternity not to lose trust in the Commission. By that, he clearly had forecast the impact of what they (the labor commission) had been involved in.


In any case, the core business of the Labor Commission as stated by the labor law is to mediate, arbitrate and not to adjudicate and so for the Labor Commission to shift its attention towards adjudication at first instance gives all such eeriness of concern.


Again, rather than talking closely with the protesting parties(in camera), adopting tact and persuasion etc. in resolving the impasse, he deemed it appropriate to engage the parties in a ‘media war’ which was counter productive and further heightened tension.


Infact, I challenge all concerned to survey thoughts on the level of trust that the labor force in Ghana have in the National Labor Commission and your results will not be far from mine.


For those who uncompromisingly castigated the UTAG and the POTAG, would attest to it that, to every action, there is a cause, but hey, the public might have reacted based on the manqué churned out by the National Labor Commission and so must not necessarily be blamed.


To my dear friends in the Polytechnics, let us continue to live by our ideals of ‘professionalism’ as we are known for, keeping trust in God and contributing positively towards nation building devoid of any sense of being let down and I believe that the Good Lord will Bless Us All.

I DID NOT MAKE IT TO HEAVEN

I stayed alert all night 20th May and all day till the dawn of 21st May 2011, monitoring the airwaves in anticipation of being an eye witness to how this world would end.

This was in reaction to the prophecy broadcasted worldwide on the BBC, CNN and other media houses indicating that the world would end on the 21st May 2011.

Although it was biblically evident that the prophecy was palpably false, we were terrorized and forced to believe that truly the world would come to an end on the said date.

What I have not yet come to terms with is how the whole world through the media could be deceived by an 89 years old man who failed the litmus test of a similar prophesy in 1994.

In this regard, if ever a case merits the charge of the famous ‘causing fear and panic’, this is a clear example.

I therefore expect the security agencies especially the police to proceed and bring to book the terrorists who sought to ‘cause fear and panic’ amongst us. This way, we shall be convinced that the laws are not meant to be selectively applied.

Notwithstanding, the day served to remind us that this world will come to an end someday, hence the need for us to be continuously ready for the return of our maker.