My grandfather used to speak to me mostly proverbially. Common among his proverbs was, "a man who crosses a great river to marry a wife must be ready to take the risks of night journey by canon to his in-laws funeral". This proverb keeps guiding me in every decision I take and I wish it is so with everybody though. A year down the lane, Joseph Clifford Tuffour took a bold decision to contest for the position he occupies currently. The above title was his slogan and that was the most popular slogan as compared to the likes of rebirth, tenacity inter alia. In fact, Coltek must work again was being echoed across the length and breadth of this institution. Its proponent, Joseph Tuffour Clifford, the current SRC president of the University of Education Winneba, Kumasi Campus per his determination and desire to make Coltek work again, was seen as the best candidate among the lots who were vying for the same position.
Before I proceed, let me state that this article doesn't call for a rejoinder of thoughtful negation. I must admit that I admired the way and manner Clifford used to carry home his activities in the name of students' welfare. In fact, Clifford could hijack local assembly meeting to ensure that the right thing was done. Sometimes, he doesn't even have a point yet will want to cause pandemonium in the house, probably to achieve his attention seeking agenda. He could table motions upon motions until proceeding comes to an end. Most of us learnt a lot from him.
As I have always say, man must not swallow his cough because he fears to disturb the sleep of others. Joseph Tuffour Clifford was one of those who could move round this campus and collect students' signatures for a petition. Mr. Eric Dumenu, the immediate former NUGS president and Mr. Eric Dauda alias Equity, the former Students' Bar president, were Clifford's close allies and some of us used to cherish what they were doing for students.
Little did we know that Clifford was doing that for his personal aggrandizement. Clifford deputized Mr. Dapilah Hasim, in the 2016/17 academic year and they lost to Mr. Kojo Achampong, the immediate past SRC president. Students were made to believe that Clifford was well nurtured and well exposed to so many things through the efforts of Mr. Dapilah. This assertion misinformed most students to rate him above his competitors at that time. The most pressing issues that he used to persuade the electorates were his past records as an ardent students' activist, citing myriad of petitions he personally wrote to management and the results that came after that. He indeed, vigorously campaigned on his previous records and policies to win the elections. Little did students know that Clifford will one day turn into who he is now. Now every student on this campus believes that the true character of a man is known when you give him power.
Shocking to their marrows, Clifford's campaign team members and supporters are usually seen on campus walking with their faces down on the grounds like sheep, and their hands usually on their jaws indicating the shock Clifford gives them after assuming office. These very supporters and campaign team members used to defend his mouthwatering political promises while we see him walks briskly like an agitated and restive croaking frog or agama lizard trying to ease pressure from its waist. Yes, that used to be a sign of confidence but is that the kind of confidence he portrays now? It is indeed true that people who have no vision mismanage their immediate opportunities.
Moving forward, it is worth commending the little efforts he put in place to ensuring that COLTEK works again. He did well for extending the campus WiFi and helping the level 300 to get their internship letters earlier. Sincerely speaking Mr. President, you have done your best but it is unfortunate that your best doesn't even touch the heart of a single student on campus. I am not unaware of the fact that you cannot please everybody but here is the case where you have not been able to please a single student. What a bad administration! You see how eager you are to handover! What at all went into your mind after assuming office? Now, all your friends and supporters have suddenly become your worst enemies? Anyway, that is not my problem. But what at all did you mean by your slogan, "COLTEK must work again?" Were you being ironical? It seems so because all the indicators are pointing to the negative direction instead of positive direction. Mr. President, you are very lucky to have such a brilliant counsel Attorney unfortunately, you seems not to be tapping his wisdom. I think the your regime would have been a splendid one if you were making good use of your counsel Attorney. In fact, he is a very good friend of mind and I know his intellectual capacity.
Moving forward, Mr. President, what happened to the brilliant policies you came out with during your campaign? I mean the mineral water project, school fees breakdown, reduction of penalties for late registration, and the rest. I can still recall you promised to fight management to put lecturers on their toes to release our results early. Have you been able to do that? During our last vacation, I overhead you spearheaded a petition for Parliament to determine government's universities fees. How far have you come with it? Mr. President, can you see how students struggle to do group assignments after lectures? Are you aware that the number of students keeps increasing every year yet you prefer wasting our dues on artists instead of providing benches at the various summer huts and pavilions to make students convenient with their studies? Within your administration alone you want to waste an amount of Ghc111,442.00 on artists. Did they sponsor your campaign? You again, spent thousands of Ghana's cedis painting the Autonomy bridge against students' decision of either expanding or extending it. You seems to be so particular about what benefits you and not what benefits the larger population. This behaviour of yours represents everything objectionable in our institution. It is notably a very bad example and role model that need to be quarantined for the safety of your successors. Hmmmm monetization of campus politics has been giving some undignified village champions certain opportunities that they will otherwise not have gotten among great, intelligent men and women of exceptional character.
The issue of aspirants playing the convenient game theory of political deception with the students has gained notoriety on this campus. Students who want leadership positions pretentiously humble themselves so that they may be voted for. But what Mr. President should know is that though your tenure has not ended, it has gone into the achieves of students as the worst performing administration and you yourself, the worst SRC president ever in the history of COLTEK. For the first time in this institution, level 100 students do not have even an SRC exercise book to point to as a benefit from the dues they paid meanwhile this administration is the luckiest to have received colossal amount of money from students. Souvenirs have been the traditional thing that every substandard leader can provide to students. Now Clifford's administration has not been able to do the traditional thing neither did he does anything extraordinary, so what should we call you? Incompetence is too refined to be used on you, substandard is still too good to give to you. You can just imagine the kind of leader you are. For the first time again, level 100 have made a unanimous decision to excuse themselves from the pending elections. Hmmm God have mercy.
Mr. President, let me make myself clear to you, I don't have anything personal against you. I am only criticising your office as a writer and an activist. My diction may not match your expectations but it may perfectly commensurates your level of achievements as the current SRC president. I overheard you guides constructive criticism as well as the Criticisers. Haha have you forgotten so soon? Anyway, criticism is not anything bad, it rather strengthens and guide a good leader to excel per his or her followers needs and interest. Hmmm there are certain things I don't just want to believe. But let me remind you if you have forgotten so soon. You used to complain and insult some unknown students who used to forward some of your chats to management. Could you boldly tell the student populace whether you are doing same now or not?
Let me conclude by calling on students to be smart this time round in selecting our leaders. We must not sit down and allow some of these pre-elections angels to come and play their tactical-zero sum politics with us. Let us do serious scrutiny this time so that we can come out with better leaders who will champion the crusade of students' interest. I entreat that we don't allow ourselves to be influenced by their borrowed monies. If you collect their money and vote for them because of that then there is no clear cut dichotomy between you and the KG student. The result of that is COLTEK will forever remain a laughing stock to other sister universities. Let me further reiterate that we put up a deep spirited defense against self-centered and parochially motivated personalities who want to be called leaders when indeed they do not have the leadership qualities. Thank you for reading.
derbieraphael@yahoo.com
0240371356
Students' Activist.
hmmm i can see the bitternes in the hearts of student populace of Coltek, which of course i am included.
ReplyDeleteTo first and foremost make it clear that, i am not trying to defend anybody, i will also want to make it clear that imagining how far one can see when on to of a tree is not the same when he is at last on top of the tree.
That is to say, we have to take it cool and wait in expectation to hear from the side of Mr. President's failure, as to whether his current situation was realy his intention, or circustances led him into it.
That not withstanding, i know there is no person who will see sweet horny ready for eating and would rather prefer to eat bitter leaf.
And i would like to cast our minds back to something our Former President John Mahama, said to the then flagbearer of the MPP, Mr Akufo Addo, that if there was someone to critisize his office, it shouldn't be the likes of him ( Mr. Akuffo Addo) but rather the likes of J. A. Kuffour and J J Rawlings, because they have ever been in his shoes.
It is true that the best way to know a persons character is to give him power. And i will like to ask that we those critisizing, have we also been in the current shows of Mr. Clifford?
Im not trying to play both sides though, but this is something we need to think through critically and take a circumspective view of it.
Mr Clifford was my year mate back in SHS when some of us occupied some positions of the SRC of our alma matter.
The then SRC president(as in school prefect) took a course which seemingly Mr Clifford is taking a cue from, which is ignoring most important matters and rather channelling resources to trivial matters.
My advice as a friend and a concern peronallity to Mr. Clifford and perhaps to the successive student leaders is what once a teacher told our classmate back in SHS that, Do not dig your own grave.
It is obvious that there are countless opportunities out there being a student leader with a holding and executed policies in student leadership. But if our student leaders should live their leadership lives like their last lives and as though there is no tommorow? then i am affraid it will be the worse dicission one will ever make.
So to our Seemingly failed Clifford led administration, i will say that it is never too late. You can still stand and make it up to the students populace that really Coltek can work again. I dont want to believe that your intention was to be how poeple see your admistration today. You have an inherent virtue from you alma mater, from the 'Me Man Nti' fraternity, which guards us where ever we go.
For the sake of the expectant Coltek student populace, stay true to the seemingly dying agenda, revive it and make Coltek work again, as you made us sing that sumptious slogan behind you, ' Yes we can', So are we also telling you today after giving you our votes and helping you take the mantle, that Yes Clifford You Can make Coltek work again. Yes You can