The Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Sekondi, Mr. Kobby
Otchere-Darko has accused Ghanaian academia of apathy, when it comes to nation
building. The M.P. believes that a cross-section of academia could contribute
constructively to national issues, but they remain quiet and allow the politician to assume more than the necessary powers, sometimes creating chaos
for the nation.
I share the sentiments of the M.P but only to an
extent. Whilst it is a fact that all hands must be on deck for maximised
national benefits, academia does not necessarily have to be in the limelight of
politics in order to contribute. The collaboration between government and
academia could be constantly effective, as well as smooth, if both parties
would operate on transparency and genuinely target national development. After
all, academic is expected to research current issues of community and national
relevance, then based on empirical evidence, recommend applicable suggestions
to policy-makers. Therein lies the challenge.
Every academic and research conference would usually be
opened by a minister or a person in a certain key industrial or academic
position. The minister or representative would glibly inform delegates that policy-makers
expect strong recommendations from the meeting. Sometimes, getting same
representatives to close such meetings becomes a challenge. What is crystal
clear is that recommendations from such proceeding are simply shelved by the
ministers or sections which receive such, because very workable suggstions are not
implemented or factored into various national development agenda. Yet that is
just a part of the problem.
Research has become a major tool for national
development, because it helps to thoroughly unravel issues. Serious nations
have explored quality research to make inroads into crucial socio-cultural and
geo-political issues, the benefits of which serious investigations are being
enjoyed globally. Africa is a major beneficiary of global research, and one
continues to hope that the countries therein will muster their resources and
focus on research in order galvanise local solutions to African problems. A
utopia!
Whereas other communities pump huge sums of money into
research activities, African countries squander resources on triviality,
especially four-wheeled vehicles we neither can manufacture nor effectively
maintain. The discrepancy between funding for research in some of our partner
countries and that of Ghana is simply pathetic, ludicrous! The discrepancy is
the singular proof that this nation pays lip service to research. Typically, Ghana
waits for simple issues to degenerate into chaos, then it begs outsiders to
fund research. Yet, other issues exist.
Due to the concept of publish or perish among
academia, research activities are on the increase. It is a fact that mediocre,
and sometimes, sub-standard work is paraded as research by some academia, but
there is also evidence of appreciable quality research. If Ghana genuinely
sought recommendations to existing problems, it could find effective ones among
researchers in Ghana, which brings me back to the sentiments expressed by the
M.P.
If various research recommendations were studied and
thoroughly analysed for applicability, policy-makers would be aided in handling
community and national issues. There are so many projects initiated by students
and academia across all learning disciplines in Ghana. Very promising projects .are
locked-up in various departments and store rooms, or shelved by government
agencies because neither institution nor government is interested in furthering
the research. Yet, some border on critical issues such as energy conservation,
recycling, solar energy, health, better learning approaches, to name five.
Ironically, academia is not even listed among key
stakeholders of the 40-year Development Plan currently being trumpeted. When
the host of GTV’s Talking Point questioned Dr. Nii Moi Thompson about the
absence of academia, the latter answered that academia was counted among civil societies. That is not accurate.
That Ghana could consider such a long-term national plan without actively
involving academia is such a slight, and a telling proof of how the
policy-maker belittles education and academia! In contrast, Mr. Otchere-Darko’s
sentiments imply his regard for academia; I am quite sure that he would back
the inclusion of academia in the stakeholders.
Academia is not simply apathetic, at least not all of
them. But it is the height of frustration to research issues, offer radical
recommendations, suggest very workable remedial strategies and continuously be
ignored by policy-makers who rather opt for intrepid adhoc solutions. If
governments and other stakeholders genuinely desire the co-operation of
academia in Ghana, they should bond through research. Government should begin
by budgeting realistically for multi-disciplinary research. It should task
academia to plunge into applied research for all the ailing critical situations
of the country. Most importantly, government must implement the most effective and progressive recommendation
from academia. I count on M.P. Otchere-Darko to support academia.
It would be refreshing indeed, if government would
strategise through research and explore holistic and sustainable solutions for
national crises! Dare we hope?
