UDS African Leadership Lectures In Retrospect

It is the conviction of the University for Development Studies (UDS), that African leaders have the opportunity and the resources to transform the continent by pursuing prudent scientific and development policies as well as nurturing indigenous talents.

The UDS also holds the view that, African leaders can transform their individual nations and the continent by recognizing and harnessing the contributions of experts and individuals inside and outside their national universities.

Moreover, in Africa’s quest to achieve internal integration and become a key player in global affairs, the UDS believes there is the need for deep reflection on the sort of leaders the continent requires. The continent, it indicates, requires innovative leaders and thinkers who will drive its development and growth. 

The African Leadership Lectures (ALL) is therefore in the estimation of the UDS, a platform to subject the issues of leadership and development in Africa to the required critical thought. 

Launched 5years ago, the lectures intends to contribute to a national and transnational discourse on productive leadership culture that will support and enhance African development. It also seeks to facilitate and create an environment for a discourse and action on leadership; create a forum to inspire positive and innovative leadership initiatives as well as stimulate and initiate a platform for an action on constructive leadership in Ghana and Africa.

Since 2012, the UDS has hosted former African Heads of States such as Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Festus Mogae, Botswana, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, Mozambique and Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, Namibia. 

Relevant topics centred on Africa’s economic development, integration, conflict management and peace among others have been delivered by the various former presidents. For instance, former President Chissano chose topics such as: (i) The evolution of the strong visionary leadership of the frontline states and its contribution to the liberation struggle in Southern Africa; (ii) Reflection on leadership, good governance and development in Africa; and (iii) leadership and conflict resolution in Africa.

Former President Pohamba also delivered his lectures on topics such as: (i) Inspiration and extraordinary African leaders; (ii) Africa integration; and (iii) My vision of a fully integrated Africa.

Come Wednesday April 26 to Friday April 28, 2017, the UDS would host the fifth ALL at its Central Administration under the theme: “African Development: From Freedom to Union”. The guest speaker would be Benjamin William Mkapa, former president of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Mr. Mkapa’s three-day series of lectures would focus on topics such as: (i) Resistance against colonization and empire building as African development; (ii) Self-determination and independence as African development; and (iii) African Union as the ultimate development. 

Mr. Benjamin W. Mkapa

The UDS ALL has not been without challenges since its inception. Key among the challenges from my own perspective are: poor sound system in the auditorium, inadequate space in the auditorium to contain all invitees and inadequate support for journalists especially with regards to request for information and printout. 

But overall, ALL has been a success over the years considering the fact that public lectures are quite infrequent in the Tamale Metropolis and in the numerous tertiary institutions in the area. So far, UDS is the only institution of learning that has been consistent in organising public lectures.

Besides, the event which is often well attended by academics, business executives, students, traditional and religious leaders, politicians and actors in civil society among others, can be described as a melting pot of knowledge and a converging point for people to network.

Going forward, I wish to appeal to the Academic Board and the Governing Council of the UDS to consider looking beyond former African Heads of States as their only choice but also consider progressive and successful business executives, business owners, accomplished academics, industrialists, research scientists, journalists, philanthropists, traditional rulers, religious leaders and among others.

My suggestion is based on the assumption that, there are many people in the aforementioned careers or leadership positions who have made enormous accomplishments and if their knowledge is tapped into as a University, Ghana and for that matter Africa would benefit greatly.  

Established in May 1992 by the Government of Ghana, the UDS exist to blend the academic world with that of the community in order to provide constructive interaction between the two for the total development of Northern Ghana, in particular, and the country as a whole. 

It began academic work in September 1993 with the admission of thirty-nine (39) students into the Faculty of Agriculture, (FOA), Nyankpala campus. The Faculty of Integrated Development Studies, (FIDS), Faculty of Planning and Land Management (FPLM) and Faculty of Education (FOE), Wa, School of Business, Wa, School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), Tamale, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources (FRNR), Nyankpala, Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS), Faculty of Mathematical Sciences (FMS), Navrongo and the Graduate School now in Tamale were phased in from 1994 to date.

UDS is unique compared to other public universities in Ghana considering its location and multi campuses which are spread out in rural Northern Ghana where the incidence and depth of poverty is high. The UDS has four (4) campuses, seven (7) Faculties, a Business School, one Medical School, one Graduate School and three (3) centres. Several programs are run at these places.

Yagbonwura Bans Rosewood Harvesting and Charcoal Production

Gonja King

The King of Gonja Traditional Area, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Bore Essa I has placed a complete ban on rosewood logging and commercial charcoal burning in the entire Gonjaland in order to protect the environment.

The Gonja Traditional Area has been exposed to uncontrolled and indiscriminate cutting down of rosewoods, especially in the last six years by some illegal chainsaw operators for export to China. This in a large extent has resulted in the depletion of the forest cover and change in the climate condition in the area.

The lumbers who claim to have legal permits from the authorities for their operations have succeeded in cutting down almost every single rosewood in the Damongo, Bole, Bamboi, Mole, Daboya, Abromase, Busunu, Buipe, Yapei and other Gonja areas under the watch of the immediate past government led by John Dramani Mahama. Several fully loaded articulated trucks are always seen transporting the timber every passing day against the will of majority of the Gonja youth.

The trees are being cut without replacement and movements of forklifts, tractors and articulator trucks in the forest has degraded the lands and created several unapproved roads in the forest.

As if that is not enough, majority of the inhabitants in Gonjaland especially the women are heavily engaged in charcoal burning and fetching of firewoods in commercial quantities. They transport the charcoal to Kumasi, Sunyani, Takoradi and Accra and they indiscriminately cut down every tree as well as sheanuts and other commercial trees for the charcoal business.

However, the King of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Bore Essa I has threatened to cause the arrest and prosecution of any person or group of persons who would engage in commercial charcoal burning or rosewood logging in the area.

Speaking at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Gonja Traditional Council at Yapei in the Central Gonja District of the Northern Region, the King called for the support of the various District Assemblies, the law enforcement agencies, the forestry commission, the traditional authorities and the youth groups to ensure the full implementation and enforcement of the ban.

The meeting brought together all the Paramount Chiefs in Gonjaland, queen mothers and other sub-chiefs to discuss diverse issues affecting the development of the area. It was also proffer solutions to the problems and also project into the future for the promotion of socio-economic development, education, agriculture, peace and security as well as water and sanitation.

The King of Gonjaland also promised to hold stakeholders’ consultation meeting to deliberate on how to stop the indiscriminate hunting of grass-cutters and rabbits in the Gonja areas, which mostly results in bush burning and environmental degradation.

He maintained that if something was not done immediately about the level of degradation through the activities of man and other natural phenomena, it would not only endanger the environment and its biodiversity, but also lives of human and animals in the area.

The Chronicle checks revealed that several communities in Gonjaland are also into small scale mining activities which are also affecting the environment in the area. 

On his part, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Salifu Saeed passionately issued a strong warning in support of the ban placed on rosewood logging and charcoal burning by the Yagbonwura. 

He drew the attention of the King and other Paramount Chiefs present to the increasing damage being caused to water bodies and the environment through the activities of illegal mining and logging in the Gonjaland.

The Regional Minister said that government would soon unveil a comprehensive plan to deal with galamsey and its related issues, and thus appealed to the traditional rulers and the entire citizenry to support the move.

Tuya School Project Abandoned

The inability of the Mion District Assembly to provide classroom blocks for Tuya and its surrounding communities is putting the future of several school going children in jeopardy. 

The children have the desire to be in school in order to pursue their dreams of becoming useful to the society, but the absence of deserving educational infrastructure in the community continues to hinder or serves as barrier to their formal education.

The assembly has unjustifiably abandoned a three unit classroom block that was to augment or replace the temporal structure provided by the community some years ago.

The temporal school structure, which was provided through communal efforts by the members of the Tuya community in September 2010 for the children in the area have exhausted its usefulness. The structures were meant to accommodate small children who could not walk to the next community called Jimli (12 kilometres away) an opportunity to attend School and have access to basic education.

The Tuya Primary School which serves children from Tuya, Gashie and Pashenaa Kura was initially run by volunteer Teachers who were paid by the community members in kind and in cash.

However, in September 2015, the Ghana Education Service (GES) absorbed the School and provided it with five trained Teachers after a number of meetings and advocacy actions from the community. Unfortunately, the school has since deteriorated without any much effort by the authority to provide new or additional structures.

The number of classes has increased from three to six with no additional classrooms to accommodate the students. The students are still using the temporal structure that was built by the community and a two classroom pavilion. Majority of the pupils sit under trees, a situation which is posing a number of challenges to quality teaching and learning.

At the quarterly Media Review Meeting of the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) and its partners, the Mion District Coordinator of the Empowerment for Life (E4L), Madam Ubaida Ibrahim in a presentation said the lives of the school children were in extreme danger and discomfort.

According to her, a three unit classroom block that was to be constructed by the Mion District Assembly in 2016 after several advocacy efforts by the E4L and the community has since been abandoned at the foundation stage.

She lamented that the plight of the pupils was worsened when the some of the temporal structures were pulled down to make way for the three unit classroom block.

Ms. Ubaida Ibrahim

Because the three unit block is abandoned or not yet completed the children have gone back to sitting under trees, exposing them to the adverse effects of heavy storms, rains, dusts and scorching sun.

“When it drizzles or rain, those under the trees and sheds have to take shelter on the veranda of the pavilion and those inside cannot learn because of the noise that is created. This means the whole school is disorganized as far as learning is concerned”.

A teacher of the school, Mr Iddrisu Alhassan confirmed the numerous challenges facing the school.

He explained that the hammattan season was the worst period for the ‘under tree’ classrooms because it brings cold and dust. 

He said “books and papers of students are always blown off when they are having lessons and teachers do not feel comfortable handling lessons under such inhumane condition”. 

The Mion District Coordinating Director, Mr. Samuel Osman Sibeko in an interview said he had just taken office and was yet to be briefed about the projects earmarked in the district. 

He however promised to give detailed report on how and why the Tuya school project was abandoned.

Why Are Levels Of Drug Abuse So High In Northern Ghana?

As a nation in general, Ghana has something of a problem with marijuana. While other nations are steadily decriminalizing marijuana, that is not the case here, or in many other African nations.

Within Africa, marijuana continues to be seen as a ‘problem drug’ by the governments of many nations, meaning that Ghana’s vast numbers of marijuana users (we are third in the world for marijuana consumption, according to the United Nations) are doing so illegally. 

Perhaps more worryingly, alcoholism and the use of ‘harder’, more dangerous drugs like heroin and crystal meth also appears to be on the rise. Sadly, the three northern regions of Ghana appear to be leading the way in this substance abuse crisis - leading to them being sternly ticked off by senior political figures. 

However, no crisis occurs in isolation. The reasons behind the drug usage in Northern Ghana bear some scrutiny, and reveal a lot about the wider problems (and mismanagement) of the regions in general:

Poverty

Poverty is endemic within Northern Ghana - and the government has done little to fund or provide opportunities for a struggling region. While the number of impoverished people declined by 2.5 million in Southern Ghana between 1992 and 2006, the same period saw poverty in Northern Ghana increase by 0.9 million.

It's a sharp contrast, with a bitter sting. Many within Northern Ghana feel that their situation is hopeless, and that the future holds nothing for them. In a recent study on youth alcoholism in Ghana, the vast majority of those studied cited poverty, and the 'hopelessness' it brings with it as a key factor in their drinking behaviour. 

A large number of families in Northern Ghana are living on extremely little. Such situations are stressful, and demoralizing. Those who are stressed and demoralized are far more likely to turn to drugs and substances than those who have a healthier outlook on life. 

Furthermore, the general lack of funds means that the substances (and methods of ingestion) that they seek out are frequently unsafe, leading to the proliferation of disease - something the state does little to mitigate via needle exchange programs or other harm reduction initiatives. 

Using ‘poverty’ as a reason for drug use may sound counter-intuitive. After all, drugs cost money. However, the relationship between poverty and drug addiction is complex and interrelated. The cheapest drugs cost just little enough to be attainable for most - meaning that people do have an outlet by which to momentarily numb their monetary stressors. 

However, once addicted, the substance becomes a perpetual slow drain on financial resources - making poverty more of a problem than ever. Many turn to crime to fund their habits. It is generally the case, globally, that providing opportunities, hope, and raised standards of living to people reduces their likelihood of succumbing to substances.

Education

According to a W.H.O report on the problem of drugs in Ghana, most people first try substances between the ages of 14 and 19. Of these youthful drug users, 70% are not in school. Education and access to education, remain a challenge for Northern Ghana. 

Many of the nation’s children do not attend school, and levels of education in general are low. This reduces the opportunities available to Northern Ghanaians - but also renders them less able to make informed decisions about substances. This is particularly true when the other form of education they get - the cultural education they absorb from parents and peers - is itself steeped in substances.

According to the same W.H.O report, even children who are aware of the dangers of substance abuse frequently succumb due to the pressure exerted on them by their communities. Children who are brought up by substance-abusing parents are generally far more likely to grow up to abuse substances themselves - substance abuse having been ‘normalized’ by their family milieu.

Schools in Ghana are at the forefront of battling drugs, and changing attitudes to them. Without the benefit of schooling, it is perhaps unsurprising that many young people in Northern Ghana become substance abusers even before they reach adulthood.

Why Is This A Problem?

Substance abuse is a major problem for Northern Ghana on a number of levels. Not only does it cause a huge amount of health problems for those affected, it also brings pain and shame on the loved ones of substance abusers. 

It creates social problems, such as crime, unemployment, and aberrant behaviour while intoxicated. Most annoying of all, it makes the region seem as though it is responsible for its own problems - when, in fact, much of Northern Ghana’s drug abuse can be traced back to abuses of power leading to the three regions of the North being extensively mismanaged. 

Funding, infrastructure improvements, greater access to education, and government initiatives to improve opportunities and quality of living for the people of Northern Ghana would undoubtedly make a huge difference to this problem. However, in the absence of these things, substance abuse in this region remains a stick for politicians and the press to beat the North with.

By Helen Young

For any clarifications or comments, you can write to Helen via helen@arialblack.org