IDDI MUHAYU-DEEN'S FOLDER
There is no denying the
fact that if there is one distinguishing factor between a developing country
and a developed one, then it is RESEARCH, which forms the basis of
technological advancements. Whilst the former sees research as a PRIORITY and
invests so much time, energy and resources in support of research works, the
latter sees a different picture and thus, adopts a nonchalant attitude towards
it. The situation in Malaysia as against what pertains here in Ghana speaks
volume to this assertion. I am using Malaysia and not the almighty Americas
because it is a country that attained independence around the same time as
Ghana. However, if today, you visited these two countries, you would think that
Malaysia is a thousand years older than Ghana and I dare say that the huge developmental
variance is attributable to research and how both countries perceive it.
In Ghana, and
particularly in our recent history, not only do our lecturers make “noise”
about the nonpayment of their book and research allowance, but many a time,
they are compelled to even lay down their tools before government attempts to listen
to them. How pathetic! Wait a minute, if you think the situation is bad with
our lecturers, then I wonder how you would describe the plight of our graduate
students, who are essentially pursuing higher learning through research and ordinarily,
ought to be seen as the backbone of the nation’s technological advancement. It
has become almost an impossibility to pursue a postgraduate programme in this
country; ostensibly, because of the burdensome financial nightmare associated
with it. Such that, if you are not fortunate to come from a very rich
background, like say, children of Ministers of State, MPs, top government
functionaries or renowned businessmen, then your pursuit of a postgraduate
programme in Ghana can only be a DREAM. Unfortunately, that is the dilemma some
of us have found ourselves.
It has now become
exceedingly expensive to pursue any postgraduate studies in the country. As we
speak, the annual fees charged for these programmes is hovering around GH¢9,000
and GH¢14.000. It is therefore not surprising to note that a good number of graduate
students defer their courses on semester basis and others, compelled to drop
out of school prematurely. Astonishingly, this is the very time our government deems
fit to withdraw almost all forms of subsidies associated with postgraduate education
in the country. The thesis and research grant, otherwise known as BURSARY is
basically an amount paid to graduate students by the government to support them
in their research works. This policy had existed from the days of Nkrumah and
all subsequent governments had committed to it until now.
For the past three
academic years, the amount payable as bursaries to these students has not been
reviewed upwards as it still stands at GH¢450 - GH¢900 depending on one’s
programme of study despite the rising cost of basic necessities. And even with
that, this current government is hesitant in paying. Indeed, no student
received a penny for last academic year (2015/16) and counting. The hard truth
is that, the Mahama government wants to, as usual, CANCEL this policy, just as
they did to the trainee allowance but in this particular instance, they are
afraid of the political ramifications. In any case, how much are we talking
about in all? Only GH¢3.5 million, which is less than the amount government
spent on the infamous Smartys bus branding scandal. Indeed, governance is about
choices; so the government of John Mahama has chosen bus rebranding over
Graduate Education. Interesting…
This has justifiably
incurred the wrath of graduate students in the country, having exhausted all
avenues to get the government to release their bursaries. And for the first
time in the history of this country, these students have been compelled to
stage a DEMONSTRATION on September 29, to drive home their misgivings under the
circumstances. As the immediate past national secretary of NUGS and a student activist,
I was actively involved in the demonstration even though I'm not a postgraduate
student and this is consistent with our principle of student solidarity. Let me
give you a brief account of what happened and set some records straight. To
start with, the event came off successfully contrary to an erroneous and
mischievous reportage by Metro Tv suggesting otherwise. I never expected such
unprofessional journalistic conduct from an
otherwise fine media house like Metro and I expect them to do the honourable
thing.
Yes, the event delayed a
little bit because we had to wait for our colleagues (GRASAG members) from all
the regions. The procession started around 9:45am and in our hundreds, we
marched through the principal streets of Accra and eventually converged at the
Hearts Park, where we were scheduled to present our petition to an official of
the Ministry of Finance, precisely, Casley Ato Forson, the Deputy Finance
Minister. Surprisingly, he never showed up. We waited for more than an hour and
there was still no show from him. Meanwhile, he was sitting comfortably at the
Ministry which is in fact, very close to the Park, where we had converged but
he felt “too big” to step out of his cozy ambience to grant us audience. Not
even the attempt by the police, led by the Greater Accra Regional Director of
Operations, Ghana Police Service, DSOP Freeman Tetteh could convince this
Deputy Minister to come and receive our petition.
Absolutely livid with the
Deputy Minster’s “misconduct”, we decided to march straight to the Ministry of
Finance to register our protest and to submit the petition but the police would
have none of that. So we got to the Ministry but were denied access to the main
compound amidst an unwavering resistance from us. We spent some THREE HOURS in
despair at the entrance and surprisingly, no official from the Ministry felt
the need to step out from their office to receive the petition despite the
charged atmosphere that our presence had occasioned. The Deputy Finance
Minister for instance, claims that his outfit has no dealing with GRASAG, hence
his “I don’t care attitude”. This is obviously a FAT LIE because there is
evidence to show that his Ministry has recently written to the association over
this same bursary issue.
I almost shed tears at
this nauseating spectacle and to think that, these are the people our hard earned
money and taxes are used to remunerate, accommodate and given several fringe
benefits from our sweat, I get utterly crazy. These government officials are
inexplicably insensible to the plight of the citizenry and do not deserve a
penny from us. Fortunately, whilst we were there, unattended to, the Labour
Minister, Hon Haruna Iddrisu who is also a former student leader surfaced at
the scene. He was actually on his way to the Ministry of Finance and we
besieged him to make our case. He promised to get back to us in five minutes,
with the Deputy Finance Minister to receive the petition and to guarantee us of
his return, he told his driver to pack the vehicle so he would walk to the
Ministry. After waiting for sometimes, his driver, in the company of the
Minister’s bodyguard attempted to move the vehicle, which was our only surety
but we strongly objected to that. This culminated in a “scuffle” between us.
The Minister’s bodyguard
then removed a gun and threatened to shoot at us if anyone dared him; a
development, which aggravated the tension, as some of us were ready to be
killed for a cause we believed in. We were willing to sacrifice our lives and
be remembered on the positive side of history and as martyrs. But for the
timely intervention of the police, I’m sure the situation would have been
bloodier. We have evidence to prove our claim in respect of the reprehensible
conduct of the Minister’s bodyguard and I would be surprised if Hon. Haruna
Iddrisu doesn’t not fire that guy. And that would give me reasons to believe
that he is not a professional security
capo but an ordinary party footsoldier. Well, the Minister [Haruna Iddrisu] eventually
returned with the “stubborn Deputy Finance Minister” [Casely Ato Forson] to
receive the petition, after we had waited for hours. Nonetheless, I commend the
efforts of Hon. Haruna Iddrisu for keeping to his words despite the unusual
delay.
Before I end, I wish to unreservedly CONDEMN
the unfortunate comments from Sam George, a presidential staffer and government
communicator who opined that, graduate students in the country have allowed
themselves to be misled to demonstrate against the government over their
bursary issues. He made these comments on a current affairs programme, State of
Affairs on GHOne, an Accra based TV station on Monday, 26th of
September. Are you surprised? Please don’t be ... because he happens to be one
of the babies with sharp teeth (in the words of President Rawlings), whose
political relevance and popularity is hinged on their ability to insult and
spew gratuitous invectives at the critics of the government. He sees vanity and
pomposity as a virtue and humility as a scares commodity. Else, how could Sam
George of yesterday, who I understand, is even yet to start a PhD Programme,
have the effrontery to insinuate that PhD and Masters Students in the country,
have no mind of their own? And that, they have to be pushed before they act.
How sad! Well, power they say, corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
A word to the wise is enough.
In conclusion, I wish to make a passionate
appeal to His Excellency President John Mahama to reconsider the “decision” of
his government and come to the aid of our students pursuing postgraduate
courses in the nation’s public universities. They deserve his sympathy. He
should not only show compassion to convicted criminals like the montie gangs,
or egg sellers but also, the students of Ghana and particularly graduate
students who are going through a hell of a time under his administration. These
students are not demanding for a rocket science from his government. All they
ask for, is an opportunity that would enable them to successfully pursue their
programmes of study and eventually contribute to national development. Is this
too much to ask for? Mr. President, these students have had enough and I doubt
they are in a position to tolerate further gimmickry. They have thus, served
notice of their resolve to fight this injustice even at the peril of their
lives. EDUCATION is and MUST remain a RIGHT.
#Mutashi
#NoPartisanNonsense
#StudentsDeserveBetter
#GovernmentMustActNow
#OurCountryMustWorkAgain
Assalamu
alaikum
This
piece was compiled by a concerned Ghanaian in the business of OCCUPYING HEARTS
and MINDS for the love of God and country.
IDDI
MUHAYU-DEEN
Youth
Activist/Student Activist
Former
NUGS Secretary
(0245335197)
Please
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