Below is an article on the crisis at the university of Ghana, Legon. This article is in response to writings from some people in our discussion forum who feel that the University Council should reconsider its decision to terminate the appointment of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Asenso-Okyere. I have omitted the real last names names of people who are in support of the reinstatement of the VC. Now I know that the Ghana Leadership Union is not for real. I don't care what his achievements were as Vice chancellor. The fact of the matter is that Legon's reputation and integrity is now soiled and stinks more the the gutters in Accra. Anybody who occupies any position of influence anywhwere can claim some achievements, real or imagined. The point is that Professor Asenso-Okyere might have performed admirably but the exam scandal which engulfed the university happend under his watch with his son as one of the protagonist actor culprits. There is simply no excuse for what happened at Legon under his watch. In addition, keeping him at the helm implies that he is perhaps the only person who is capable and qualified to lead the university. My friends, there are many learned men/woman in the educational system in Ghana who can lead Legon. The good professor blew his stewardship by allowing the reputation of the university to be drawn through the mud .
In essence, the University Council is right to ask him to vacate the position or be fired. I feel sorry for him because he was sincere and capable. However, the mess was such that it overshadowed his numerous accomplishments.
Where I disagree with Kwaku and Michael is their insistence that the man has many accomplishments and in light of this, the University Council should reconsider its decision to relief him of his position. Kwku and Michael, where have the two of you been the last forty or so years? I am amazed that people who preach reform based on "leadership" as the means of making meaningful transformation and change, would take such an outmooded and backward stand. Look, it is the same rational that many African dictators, pseudo revolutionaires and others, mainly from the barracks have used in the recent past to establish and consolidate their political power, hegemony, misrule and lack of transparency in the affairs of African states. Many of such crooks claim to have had many accomplishments and without them at the helm, the state would likely collapse or disintegrate. History has proven all these "bastards" and "coconut heads" wrong. Clear examples can be found in Ghana, Nigeria, etc. on the African continent.
Kwaku and Michael of the GLU, if you preach leadership and accomplishments you must also preach accountability. Whatever happened in Legon happened on the watch of the affable and distinguished Professor Asenso-Okyere and he must take responsibility by resigning with his honor a little tainted. Resigning implies that he has accepted full responsibility for what happened under his watch. This to me, is what leadership is about. His termination or resignation should serve as an example for many in the government service. From now on, if things under one's watch goes wrong and goes too wrong in any of the public services, a precedent has been set, which menas that whoever is in charge when something major goes wrong, must be made accountable by either getting fired or being asked to resign. I support the action of the University Council to relieve the good Prof of his position as Vice Chancellor.
Kwaku and Micheal: you can't preach good leadership as the moving force for change without preaching and supporting accountability. Your GLU is now suspect when it comes to the leadership model for change that your organization has been preaching.
Burlington, NC
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