Rawlings: Some Ghanaian academics now political stooges

A former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings, has launched an attack on Academics in his country, accusing them of becoming political stooges.

“Many of our students and regrettably some of our academics have become unconscionable tools of the political pettiness of our day," he said, adding: “Conscience is priceless and cannot be exchanged for a pot of gold."

The former military ruler also said Ghana’s Universities were now breeding grounds for decadence.

“It is sad to note that our universities, which were once the conscience of society and served as an accurate political barometer, have today become an unfortunate extension of the indiscipline and greed eating into our society like a malignant tumor," Rawlings told an audience at the University of Education, Winneba, Thursday, after an honorary doctorate degree was conferred on him, and two others: former Nigerian President, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, the first Vice-Chancellor of UEW.

As far as University students were concerned, Rawlings said: “There was a time when, many opinion leaders and agents for change in society were groomed within the various student unions”, but regretted the situation had changed.

“We have never paused to quantify the huge costs of such levels of indiscipline and indiscretion, and until we revive our conscience and sense of individual responsibility and start policing each other, we will continue to build a tight economic and political noose round our neck," Rawlings, who was in power for close to two decades in the West African country warned.

“The time has come for less speak and more action; for us to look into our little areas and identify the corrupt tendencies that have metamorphosed into a national crisis and combat them. We have a moral right and duty to confront our political leaders and insist on transparency, accountability, equity and fair play. That right will have more value if we as individuals are incorruptible and conscionable. Our society and by inference our politics will be devoid of greed and corruption if we develop a conscience as a people."