Why Ukraine? The question nobody is asking

International news this week have been filled the International armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine. I am writing this article not to go into the nitty-gritties of the war or its origin. I am seeking to arouse a conversation that has otherwise not been brought to the fore.

It is reported that some 3000 Ghanaians or more are stranded in Ukraine awaiting an intervention from the Government of Ghana to airlift them. Indeed, other nations have already made efforts to evacuate their citizens from the war zones in Ukraine. The discussion in our local media has been about government’s effort to airlift her citizens before things get out of hand.

The question still remains: why Ukraine? What are the over 3000 students doing there?

These students are in Ukraine mostly to study medicine. But why Ukraine?

The answer to this question can best be answered by the moribund Ghana Medical and Dental Council whose objective have been to frustrate Ghanaian youth whose only aspiration is to become medical doctors and augment the already poor health system we have. In fact, these students have been made to believe that there are not good enough to study medicine in Ghana and would have to pay more outside the country just to achieve their dreams.

The twist is that once they finish and come to Ghana, they’re made to sit for the licensing exams and when they pass, are allowed to practice medicine in Ghana. The records have shown that most of them pass the exams at first attempt. So, the issue is not about their capabilities to study medicine, it is the archaic and oligarch mentality of the so-called MDC whose aim is to protect their positions in the medical profession.

Indeed, nobody is advocating for a lowering of the standard or substituting quality for quantity but if these students are good to study medicine in Ukraine or elsewhere, then why not in Ghana? Why can’t we expand the medical schools and allow more access whilst ensuring quality? Why do we waste precious foreign exchange only to go for a certificate which could hitherto be obtained in Ghana? Who benefits from this askance behaviour? Why are we frustrating the dreams of our young people?

We should know that the days when some professions were deemed to be privileges are over. We must endear to meet the needs of the citizenry by expanding access to education and removing all artificial barriers which have served no purpose. This year alone, the number of students who obtained between aggregate 6 and 9 in WASSCE and yet were sacrificed on the altar of other programmes is very significant all because we haven’t decided to deliberately allow people to pursue their dreams.

We seem to live in a regime where we jubilate over frustrating young people. The amount involved in doing the Post-first-degree medicine in Ghana alone is so huge that it is sometimes cheaper to even do it outside Ghana. Ghana Medical and Dental Council should know they have a duty towards all Ghanaians and not to just be protecting their profession.

We can have quality in quantity. These students have become victims of a very corrupt and discriminatory system. May God protect them and bring them home safely.