By Solomon B. Nti (Freelance Writer)

The recounting of the history of Ghana is always said not to be conclusive if it fails to capture the role of students and their leaders especially in the era of military regimes experienced in the country. The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) and its ally Trade Union Congress (TUC) have been credited for leading the crusade for a Democratic Government. However, the story of the student movements today is very distasteful, pathetic and to the point of exhaustion.

Over the weekend in Legon SRC Conference Room, the launching of the book titled “Lost Leadership Conscience: the End of Progressivism in Ghanaian Students Politics” written by Mr. Kwabena Brako-Powers (a former Press and Information Secretary of the National Union of Ghana Students – NUGS) witnessed a heavy debate between Mr. Gyekye Tanoh the representative of Dr. Yao Graham Coordinator of the Third World Network (TWN) on one hand and the Representative of the Minister of Employment, Social Welfare and Labor Relations and Apostle Dr. Apostle Queronica Quartey of Actionaid Ghana on the other hand on the issues of Graduate Joblessness vis-à-vis the unfulfilled promises of past Governments to create jobs.

The book which talks about achieving an effective leadership in the continental students front went ahead to address the issue of Graduate Joblessness that is engulfing Ghana especially and other countries in the continent. According to Mr. Austin Brako-Powers, he wrote the book because he felt “for over fifty seven (57) years in the life of our nation, we can boast of only five books written by past student leaders” and this he believed “is wrong and does not bode well for Ghana”. The other four past student leaders who have also authored similar leadership books included Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (State of Coma), Hon. Omane Boamah (the state of GETfund), Mr. Ernesto Kofi Yeboah (Student Manifesto) and Prosper Hoetu (The Irony of Change). The young author advises the current student leadership in the country to take up the habit of writing for the coming and younger generations to learn from past mistakes.

In the Chairman’s remark, Dr. Henry Lartey, leader of the Great Consolidated Peoples’ Party (GCPP) lauded Mr. Kwabena Brako-Powers for bringing out a book that will go a long way to shake the foundation of student leadership in the continent for generations to come.

Among those present included Mr. Fred Awaah the Secretary-General of the All-Africa Students Union (AASU), Mr. Rester Torgomey (former President of the Graduate Students Association of Ghana, Legon Chapter), Mr. Ernesto Kofi Yeboah (Deputy Communication Director of the Convention Peoples’ Party), Mr. Rauf Kadri (Youth Organizer of the Convention Peoples’ Party), Mr. Osman Ayariga (former NUGS President), Miss Ernestina Ofoe (former NUGS Women’s Commissioner), clergy, family relations, students, mates from the Abuakwa State College and the media.