The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) arguably is the
largest student movement in Ghana
and a dominant force in student activism on the African Continent and beyond. NUGS
was formed in 1959 with the aim of gathering all Ghanaian students under one
umbrella to fight for the rights and interests of students, offer a common
platform for the discussion of issues and problems affecting students,
inculcating in students the spirit of solidarity and patriotism and to a larger
extent representing Ghanaian students on national and international issues of
interests.
Truly, NUGS has over the years lived up to its creed and
moved beyond that to be a nurturing ground for astute political leaders for our
dear country, Ghana.
Sincerely, there is no gainsay that, political leaders such as Dan Botwe,
Haruna Iddrisu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Dr. Arthur Kennedy among others carved
their political career whilst serving as executives at NUGS.
It is also evident that NUGS has over the years been able to
influence policies that saw massive improvement in the infrastructure of
majority of schools dotted around the length and breadth of our country, as
well as keeping our political leaders on check and at various times contributed
their quota in building the democracy that we currently enjoy.
Unfortunately, this piece of writing which may be called an
article is not designed to spotlight the achievements of NUGS but rather to
highlight the challenges she currently faces and how that has damaged her
legacy and ultimately make propositions that are essential to reclaiming the
legacy of our mother union.
It is an undisputable fact that, despite the gargantuan
achievements of NUGS over the years, she is increasingly becoming irrelevant
and a white elephant to the course of Ghanaian students in lieu of the myriad
of challenges she currently faces. Indeed, many are those who contend that the
flame of student activism which was set ablaze and handed down to successive
generations of Ghanaian student leaders began running out of steam from the
early 1990’s. Unfortunately, I am sometimes tempted to agree with this view in
toto for obvious reasons. Apparently, NUGS has become redundant and dormant,
ineffective and inactive as a result of political infiltration, “greed and
monecracy’’ instead of democracy. This has rendered NUGS handicapped in its
quest to address the myriad of challenges confronting the Ghanaian student.
Lest I forget! The issue which is of importance to me and key to NUGS’ reclaiming
her shuddered legacy and central to this article, is unity within NUGS. This is
however an alien if not a mirage to our present day NUGS.
Colleague students, comrades! Not too long ago, the whole
world and for that matter Ghana woke up to the news that Cote d’Ivoire had two
presidents, a fallout from the disputed presidential elections in that country.
Indeed, many, including student – leaders of Ghana were of the opinion that such
a situation was unacceptable and that it was time African leaders eschewed such
selfish and ambitious moves which culminate into conflicts. As the memories of
this tragedy still linger fresh in the minds of many, even the feeble minded
still recalls the precious lives and valuables it cost Cote d’ivoire to appease
for the harm caused .Do we as leaders and members of NUGS envision the
propensity of our actions in that dimension?
Several months down the line, the National Union of Ghana
Students was caught in the same web where there were two claimants to the NUGS’
presidency, a fallout from the impeachment of Anthony Abotsi Afriyie and the
election of Hamza Suhuyini as NUGS president in the 2010/2011 NUGS year.
Unfortunately and for the purpose of this article, I state without any
equivocation or mischief that NUGS 2011/2012 has two presidents: NDC – Ho based
NUGS led by Osman Ayariga and NPP – Accra
based NUGS led by Peter K. Kodjie. Sad revelations! Indeed, very very sad
revelations. Quelle domage!!
Surprisingly, many of our students – leaders do not want to
eat humble pie and accept the reality that there is a problem in NUGS and that
there is the need to reclaim the legacy of NUGS. Indeed I remember putting this
issue to Mr. Gbadago Francis, the indefatigable SRC president of GIJ at a student
gathering in October, 2011. Interestingly, he was of the view that NUGS is not in crisis since Peter Kodjie
is parading as NUGS president and that Osman Ayariga is the legitimate NUGS
president as he was elected by majority of the membership of NUGS in HO.
Surely, such a statement from Francis was pleasing to the ear but it is not
soothing to the soul when we hear Peter issues statements to the press, produces
quarterly reports on the activities of NUGS and grants interviews to the press
as part of his responsibilities as the substantive NUGS president? Just like
Francis acknowledges Ayariga as the NUGS president, I am pretty sure other SRC
presidents also adore Peter as the incumbent NUGS president.
Then again, it is evident that the internal wrangling within
NUGS has had a negative toll on its blocs, particularly the Ghana Union of
Professional Students (GUPS) where Charles Amponsah and Louisa Atta Agyemang
are equally having an “Azonto challenge”. Who wins the competition? We shall
find out!
Colleague students, Comrades! It is disheartening that we
have an ailing, dysfunctional, disunited and shuddered student front at a time
when the educational sector in Ghana is bedeviled with a lot of challenges,
ranging from high rocketing school fees, poor or inadequate infrastructure on
our campuses, late payment of student loans, rampant strike actions, poor
WASSCE and BECE results and the unwarranted infringement of the rights and
sovereignty of students all of which impact negatively to the success of students
and our nation at large.
The American Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King jr.
once said that “we must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose
infinite hope”. Despite these difficulties, we are facing as a union; I believe
that we can rise above the challenge to reclaim the fragmented legacy of our
mother union.
For NUGS to relive its former glory and reassert itself as a
formidable student front, I propose first and foremost that we should as a
matter of urgency kick out this NDC – TAIN- NPP – TESCON sponsored elements
from frontline student leadership and activism for dedicated, selfless,
indefatigable, effective, efficient and above all, non-partisan leaders to
rebuild, reunite, ignite and reclaim the crushed legacy of NUGS.
Secondly, unity within the rank and file of the union is key
to the survival of student activism and essential to the pursuance of our
goals. Indeed, it is true that NUGS’ key strength is its numbers which it
employs as a bargaining tool to negotiate for the supreme interests of students
at all times. How can we exploit our numbers to overcome our challenges in the
wake of the disunity that stares us in the face? Unity I repeat is key!
Also, we should adopt strategic diplomacy as an immediate
step to bring the various factions to forge a common front in the upcoming
congress.
Lastly, the alumni of NUGS have a key role to play in
resolving this impasse. The likes of William Yamoah, Kweku Tuoho Bombassson,
Kofi Totobi – Kwakye, Emmanuel Domson, Haruna Iddrisu and Wonder Mandilo have a
responsibility to intervene because as to whether Peter Kodjie or Osman Ayariga
is parading as NUGS president or not, who is legitimate and who is not, is
irrelevant since our inability to unite these forces betrays our unions formidability
and raises questions as to their capacity to represent the students of Ghana.
Alumni of NUGS, your intervention is vital!
In conclusion, even though I have made an attempt to provide
solutions to the problems confronting NUGS, they may not be enough as the
problems may be bigger than we already know. However, as NUGS leaders and
members, let’s take a snappy discerning pause to evaluate the legacy we
succeeded and that which will bequeath those in posterity. As rational as we
all may be, our conscience and sub-conscience will not give us a breathing
space to scramble this legacy but instead bring all the fragments, fractions, pieces
and crumbs to the negotiating table for re- framing. In doing so, I therefore
challenge the leaders of the student front in Ghana which include Osman Ayariga
(NUGS), Peter Kodjie (NUGS), Charles Amponsah (GUPS), Kingsley Baffoe (USAG),
Gbadago Francis (SRC – GIJ), Daniel Theobiano (SRC – UG), Fred Amese (SRC –
UDS), Philemon Laar (SRC – KNUST), Kwesi Otchere (SRC-UCC) and Fred Atiga (SRC – CUC) among others to
bequeath us with a better legacy, for nothing is easier than blaming others for
our troubles and absolving ourselves of responsibility for our choices and
actions. Anybody can do that. Responsibility in the 21st century
demands more. The time has come to realize that the old habits, the old
arguments are irrelevant to the challenges faced by Ghanaian students. They in
fact lead us to act in opposition to the very goals we claim to pursue. They
built up walls between us and the future that our people seek and the time has
come for those walls to come down. Together we must build a ‘new NUGS’ that
bridges old divides.
Long live the National Union of Ghana Students, Long live Ghana.
Aluta continua, Victoria Ascerta.
STEVE KUBATE SALIFU
GHANA INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM
