THE YOUTH CAN DO IT

Our greatest and mutual enemies in Ghana and across Africa are poverty, illiteracy and disease. These enemies are no respecter of age, tribe, religion, region, inter alia. However, they hit some regions harder than they do to others. We have not relented in our efforts in fighting them.

In this fight, age is unimportant. We need leaders who will stop at nothing in their bid to help the masses. We need committed and people-centered leaders, not leaders who never think beyond their family and friends. We need leaders who see leadership as a call to serve, not to be served. We need leaders who are selfless and who don't seek to operate on the “benefits principle”. And these leaders don't necessarily have to be people who fall out of the “youth bracket”. In the youth, we can find the estimable qualities the elderly have. This is why we do not have to have qualms about appointment of the youth into leadership positions, be it political or apolitical.

Fortunately, due to the intertwined nature of our enemies, one beautiful way to tackle them is education. The more people get educated, the more illiteracy gets reduced, the more poverty we alleviate, and the healthier society gets. The whole country benefits because we all become a happier people. And so when leaders chalk successes at improving educational levels, they deserve commendation. Their good works should not go unnoticed. We should use their achievements to challenge their successors, and future leaders in general.

Last weekend, the Gonjaland Youth Association (GYA) held its 33rd Annual Congress. At the occasion, the National President of GYA, Alhaji Ahmed Ewura, acknowledged that the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District had performed so remarkably in the 2007 and 2008 Basic Education Certificate Examination. The District had leapfrogged from a nationwide rank of 44 to an enviable 16th position, a position that saw the District as the BEST IN THE THREE NORTHERN REGIONS! Incredible! Awesome! Marvelous!! (Sorry I'm going crazy, it's because I come from that District, and had my elementary education there!).

The Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District was among the 28 new districts created in 2004 from the then 110 Municipal and District Assemblies. It was carved out of the Bole District. When Former President J. A. Kufuor appointed Hon James Kipo Sunyehzi (who was then under 30years of age) as the District Chief Executive, many did not see the wisdom in it. They cried foul. They said Hon. James was “too young”. They also said he had just finished school (his MBA from the University of Ghana, Legon) and was “inexperienced”. Some of his contenders had advanced degrees and PhDs, and had been working for so long a time, and seemingly had more experience, and so on. But the former President did not budge! So James took office in 2005. Regrettably, he is now “former DCE”.

It is so satisfying to note that in less than 5 years, the District has risen this fast and high. While congratulating the pupils, parents, teachers, and educational workers of the District, it is worth mentioning that the success could not have been without the exemplary leadership of Hon James Kipo. As a way of fighting poverty, illiteracy and disease, and enhancing the general development of the people, James initiated a move in which students who obtained a DISTINCTION in the BECE had their first year high school fees reimbursed by the district. He also, in collaboration with the District Director of Education, visited various schools unannounced, and teachers who were not at post without permission were queried and/or sanctioned. At various durbars and occasions, especially those that involved students, Hon James would yell “There is no shame in coming from a poor background; the real shame is sitting down and doing nothing about it!” He made students to understand that the one sure way to fight poverty is to go to school. So it was little wonder that the District became the BEST in the three Northern Regions. A standard has been set. The least we expect from his successors is to live up to the task if they can't go over and above it.

What the privileged youth who get appointed to leadership positions must know is that they have to perform well. Just as diversity in tribe, religion, region, political persuasion, etc is beautiful if we unite as a country (what is phrased unity in diversity), and can be a powerful too for national development if we harness it well, diversity in age is awesome! The youth have to work in ways that will give every reason for their consideration in all realms of national development effort.

God Bless Us All
Iddisah Sulemana
The University of Akron, Ohio, USA
[email protected]