NUGS-Russia CONGRESS, MOSCOW: Ghanaian Students of Saint Petersburg, Russia convincingly buried their counterparts in Moscow in an intellectually stimulating debate insisting that the older generation of African leaders have failed the youth. The debate was part of a series of events organized during the annual congress of the students from various parts of the Russian Federation. It was attended by officials of the Ghana Mission in Moscow, Members of the diplomatic corps and members of the Ghana community as well as students of other African countries.

Speaking for the motion on the controversial topic “The old generation has failed the youth in the socio-economic development of Africa”, Petersburg students argued that non- productive economic policies as well as a lack of a clearer and sound policy direction by the older generation was to be blamed for the poor infrastructural development as well as the weaker economic standing of Africa today. Uninspiring leadership and an unhealthy quest to exploit the youth for much narrower interests by power-holders coupled with outmoded Educational systems that has failed to prepare and equip the youth to make them self-reliant and ready for the demands of the job market and the needs of society today.

Moscow students however responded that the older generation cannot be blamed for the woes of Africa today since, against the odds of imperialism and other mitigating factors, the older generation fought hard to achieve independence and left sound workable foundational legacies that should have served as springboards for accelerated development today. That the youth have failed to work hard to take their destiny into their own hands making them lethargically over reliant, lacking initiatives. That the tragedic lack of innovation and failure to make proper use of the opportunities bestowed on society today by available technology is the real cause of Africa’s under development.

An obvious difficulty however had to do with a lack of a clearer definition as to what and who constituted the older generation and where to place the line of demarcation.

However on a continent where most of the important institutions and landmarks are structures put forth by the older generation, it was hard to see how the older generation could take all the blame. In Ghana important institutions like the University of Ghana and other traditional universities, the Akosombo Dam, as well as the Kotoka International Airport and several others across Africa which have received little to no significant renovation and improvement remain legacies of the older generation. Other important structures put forth by the older generation which could have been improved by current generation of leaders ended up being sold back to foreign institutions and other private individuals for “better management” as current generation fail to properly manage these assets.

Ironically after arguing that the older generation has failed, the students expressed worrying concerns of how their previous allowances have been woefully reduced by the current administration with the removal of their project allowances which has affected quality of research. It was also realized that the current administration was dragging its feet in the release of funds for their hostel fees, medical refunds with a 50% cut in their shipment allowances instituted by the “older generation” over the past 12years. The students therefore called on the government and the scholarship secretariat to review the conditions of their scholarship to reflect current economic realities in the Russian Federation.

H.E. Dr Seth Koranteng in his usual friendly demeanour advised the students to work hard to make Ghana proud. The congress ended with the election of new student executives to run the affairs of the student union for the 2012/2013 academic year. Mr Adusei poku was elected the President together with Mr. Shine Brian Tsar as his Vice, Prince Abakah-General Secretary, Samuel Antwi – Organising Secretary and Mr. Godwin Adukpo a.k.a. Sir Gaul was retained as the Financial Secretary.