REGULATION AND CONTROL OF STUDENTS' UNION IN AFRICA

Students and their unions deserve to be strengthened in order to further expand the space for free speech and human rights within the democratic dispensation. A bill against students' activism of whatever kind or students' manipulation by opposition/foreign powers can hardly be contemplated at this time. They have used students to fight opponent and when they got power they are fixing legislation against student association.

In Nigeria the committee on Education of the House of Representatives has been considering a rather strange bill on the regulation and control of students' union activities. It is a little difficult to build up reasons or issues that precipitated this bill, at least within the orbit of current inter-locking economic, socio-cultural or political events.

That the House of Representatives is also considering another bill to regulate and control the press against the backdrop of its refusal to approve a Freedom of Information Bill. It raises the question why a parliament that is supposed to widen the democratic space is busy taking steps that will shrink political freedom. With a general election less than a year from now in the country its electoral integrity are unattractive. By the time the House completes its bill to regulate and control students' union activities. It would certainly have succeeded in turning Africa's most populous nation into a political wilderness.

The continuous ownership of student movement in Africa by politicians, will only increase the street protect by student. This is why the House of Representatives will have to reconsider its intentions and pretensions about a bill that endangers the freedom of students to express their thoughts on matters affecting their respective society and the academic community.

Besides, it is not true that students' unionism poses the kind of threat that is being suggested. Historically, all over the world, students have helped to change the course of development in their countries and beyond. Nigeria will probably not be the independent, self-minded and assertive country it is today but for the decisive role of students in preventing the parliament headed by Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa signing a Defence Pact with Britain after independence. That of Ghana is in no dispute.

Students in Europe played a critical role in pulling down the Berlin Wall in 1989 helping to thaw relations between the ideological East and West that finally led to the dismantling of communism in the Soviet Union and across the world. The brave protest of the Chinese students at Tiananmen Square, Beijing 20 years ago helped China to gain the liberalization that has brought about Chinese prosperity. The students' protests of the 1960s have turned Europe to a more respected voice in the world and the examples can be multiplied even locally. Many will remember the heroism of students in the struggle against military authoritarianism in Nigeria in the 80s and 90s.

It is not surprising that opposition is mounting against the proposed bill. What is surprising is that Honourable members of the House of Representatives do not consider the bill a waste of valuable time.

The House should perish its idea of a bill to control the democratic activities of students' unions. A better option is to give students the opportunity to develop a better sense of belonging and ownership within the academic community and such improved relations between the Students' Affairs Office and the unions that will reduce belligerence and promote self-restraint and mutual co-operation. The politician must stop recruiting corrupt students leaders who are found have misapplied student funds, levies, properties and taken per diem that can’t be supported by evidence. The castle must stop sponsoring students for the purpose of stopping student demonstration for change.

This would include their involvement in decision-making processes relating to their welfare and interests, but even more significantly, ensuring that the school system is upgraded in such a manner that promotes the objectives of quality education. Gagging students through a provocative piece of legislation that could result in further disruptions within the system is in no way in the national interest.

Academic infrastructure must be improve very well so us to allow for more intake of students in the various universities. The cost for academic fees must be reasonable for both the young and old to go for further upgrade of knowledge. Students must learn to stop believing politicians, but they must fight a good fight that can change the future of brothers and sisters who are yet to start university education. Years ago, when we found ourselves in leadership, we fought for change and groom leaders to take our place just for the fight to continue freedom for all.

We fought for Getfund but it is used us political tool for pressing for quietness in institutions whose students are trouble makers in the country or are heard in the media daily on the fight for freedom. If we have forgotten soon like the deputy minister of information Master Samuel Ablakwa then we are likely to continue to see education come to nothing. Your promise to get UD students have a comfortable life while academic work goes on is still fresh in their minds.

These are names of some NUGS presidents who suffer in the hands of politicians and their institution included Ken, Omani, Ablakwa, and Abu, who had the academic dreams in danger. Today some are found in government and little input comes from them toward the shaping of student association. The current NUGS leadership can’t speak of an own office and the finances of the association is in bad shape. The leadership is at the mercy of the politician to give them money for every function that must be organized. These are the secret regulation and control of student association. Shame!! Shame!!

IS THE FIRE SERVICE PERSONNEL READY FOR MORE FIRE IN THE YEAR

Most Ghanaian are less informed of the dangers ahead in the changes in the weather pattern for the dry season. The meteorological service, geological services which is a Government agencies that must supply most information are less resourced and lack the various apparatus that will help them to study the weather pattern.

The strong winds that is currently moving low pressure may cause a lot of dryness’ as the rainfall may also produce early dry season and that is the weather prediction for this years.

The worst-case scenarios on climate change envisaged by the UN two years ago are already being realised, say scientists at an international meeting.

In a statement in Copenhagen on their six key messages to political leaders, they say there is a increasing risk of abrupt or irreversible climate shifts. Even modest temperature rise will affect millions of people, particularly in the developing world, they warn.

But, they say, most tools needed to cut carbon dioxide emissions already exist.

With the new information on how the Amazon rainforest would cope with rising temperatures, a UK Meteorological Office study concluded there would be a 75% loss of tree cover if the world warmed by three degrees for a century.

This summer's melt of Arctic sea ice has not been as profound as in the last two years, scientists said as the ice began its annual Autumn recovery.

Among the reasons for the less drastic melt are that Arctic temperatures have been cooler this year than last, researchers said, and that winds have helped disperse sea ice across the region.

Next month they will publish a full analysis including more details of how temperatures, currents and winds affected the sea ice this summer.

It’s been exactly one week since a whole government bureaucracy (the foreign ministry) was razed down by a fire outbreak. Without the necessary equipment to put out the inferno, fire personnel looked on in amazement as the blaze caused havoc. The next day, the president and other top government officials visited the scene of the destruction, expressed shock and spewed a few platitudes. The president has promised to ensure that the fire service is equipped so that they will not join spectators to admire the rage of future infernos. They are words that needed to be spoken. But will they be backed with deeds?

I am not so optimistic. In this country we tend to talk endlessly about our issues when they come up in the news. When the next big story comes, we forget about the promises that were made and just continue with the talking – about the latest news. The latest news is former president Jerry John Rawlings and whose home was gutted with fire on valentine day.

I don’t think the fire service is going to get the modern equipment it needs within a year or two. It’s not that it can’t be done. Government will just not do it. They will tell us that it takes time – and sure it does – but I am sure that a determined government should be able to supply its fire service with the basic equipment it needs within a matter of two years. But that’s not going to happen.

And it’s a shame. It’s a very big shame that in the 21st Century we have such a poorly-equipped fire service, whose officers cannot climb a five-storey building to put out a fire. We like to delude ourselves by saying that “we’ve come far”. We have not. And if you were looking for a sign that ours is a broken and wretched country, just look at our fire service and police service.

We are been told that fire officers due for promotion have not promoted. During the latter part of 2008, there was panic promotion which the former Chief Fire Officer, Felix Kwame Ferkah had to hurriedly promote some officers who were not qualified to be promoted. Someone in the Ministry of the Interior last year nullifying their promotions, with the hope that the council for fire service with the ministry of interior on board will do the right thing in the future.
But qualified officers kept pressing for their promotion to be affected but senior officers kept them in the dark.

Our police officers lack the basic facilities to conduct thorough investigations to bring criminals to justice. They don’t even have the know-how, much less the hardware, for collecting and analysing fingerprints. Kufuor’s government promised to make them efficient by giving them cars and setting up a communication system. That was more than eight years ago. Few cars were delivered and even so they were mostly used to transport officers’ wives to the markets and their children to school – not for crime fighting. How long should it take to provide your police force with the facilities they need to fight crime? I think a determined government that doesn’t delight in seeking refuge in excuses should be able to do that in a presidential term. Kufuor had two and our police service is no better than it was when he was on ordinary John.

Now, we have another John in charge and he’s making promises like the one before him did. Let’s hope he delivers – not just for the fire service but for all the other agencies that are supposed to be protecting us and providing for our well-being. That’s what governments exist for. The police and fire service are two of the most important agencies for protecting the life and property of citizens. If by the next election, the fire service still doesn’t have ladders and modern tenders and the police is incapable of collecting fingerprints and they still need to rent taxis to follow up on citizens’ complaint, I would say the Mills government has failed to secure the people. I will be disappointed. But I won’t be surprised.

And, somehow, I know what the excuse would be: “we didn’t have enough time”. It’s a flimsy excuse but many will accept it. That is why we are where we are since we have failed to think positively.