Poor Vincent Kuagbenu!

The hardworking teachers of our universities have not been spared the bad tongue of misfits elevated to head important public institutions. They too are now being subjected to insults and derogatory references by nonentities who earned their positions more through their belongingness to a political party than merit. Vincent Kuagbenu, Director of the National Service Scheme, was at his worst when he poured venom on the integrity of our university lecturers a few days ago. He virtually described peeved university teachers as a bunch of Ghanaians demanding more money which they do not deserve. If this is not an alternative way of calling them a dishonest lot, then we do not know what else is. The teachers, he said, only recycled notes and churned out these to their students over the years and so are undeserving of the extra money they are demanding. We find such remarks by that man detestable, reprehensible and dishonest, given his past records as one who played a leading role in teachers� protest against then President Kufuor for better pay. He had the privilege of benefitting from a university education and, through a system which rewards persons of his ilk, finds himself heading a strategic institution like the NSS. It is not surprising that he would be intoxicated by power bestowed upon him and open his mouth misguidedly and pour out garbage on the integrity of university teachers just because they are demanding increments in their allowances. Workers under him have had reason to complain about his untoward conduct for some time now, yet the man clings on to his position because of his political correctness: He draws his power and support from the scribe of the party, whose card he bears proudly. Last year, during an NDC youth forum in Winneba, this same person, was hooted at by irate persons for his unacceptable and horrible interpersonal relationships. Like their compatriots outside the universities, the lecturers too are entitled to make demands for increased remunerations and other allowances, regardless of the effusions of the ilk of Vincent Kuagbenu. Ghanaians in the public, civil and private sectors of the country are entitled to negotiate for whatever they deem necessary to keep them afloat in a challenged economic system. Vincent Kuagbenu�s remarks suggesting that the university teachers are only churning out persons unfit for unemployment is smelly and suggestive of his lowly intellectual standing. To think that the originator of such a remark is one heading the NSS is an unsettling observation to make. The man on the carpet does not appear to comprehend the purpose of education and what is entailed in job creation. Otherwise, he would not be making such silly remarks as he basks in excitement over his position of authority. As for what curriculum development means, it is certainly beyond the comprehension of this nitwit. In spite of the imbecility entailed in his effusions, he made headlines, perhaps endearing himself to his employers who are unable to remember yesterday, preferring to embrace today and the cosmetic advantages it brings. Poor Vincent Kuagbenu! It is the least we can say about this man as he sits atop a state institution he has turned into a fiefdom from where he spewed insults at lecturers who made him. We do not blame him at all but those who have been enamoured with his unacceptable conduct of heaping insults on his compatriots who do not share their ideals and style. They have unfortunately forgotten about how the boomerang effect of the obscene remarks can have on them as his employers. A system which enables politics to elevate persons to positions they never dreamt of overnight can engender such social anomalies. It is really a pity and blight on the image of our country that such characters would head institutions of this stature and therefore have the opportunity of making remarks which are anything but sensible and acceptable by persons of sound mind.