Wasting our buildings
In past decades, several buildings were put up to serve various functions. Among them were buildings which were intended to facilitate interaction among people outside of the workplace. Such buildings could be regarded as social centres and were very different from the so-called "Spots" found across Ghana today.
Advertisement
These include buildings such as the Ghana Club in Accra, the Lebanon House in Kumasi, the Kumasi Club, the Railway Club in Sekondi and the Senior Staff Club on the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus in Kumasi and various cinema houses in the major urban centres in Ghana.
Some of these buildings such as the Lebanon Club and the Kumasi Club had sports and games facilities such as basketball, billiards and snooker table, lawn tennis court and table tennis facilities as well but several very serious discussions which impacted on the destiny of Ghana took place in these buildings.
Many of these buildings arguably, could be said to be places where the pulse of society could be measured. The Senior Common rooms of the University of Ghana at Legon in Accra also played a very influential role in decision making not only in the university but also in Ghana as a whole. They have been deliberately left out of this discussion because they are part of the halls of residence and are not stand-alone buildings. Unfortunately, almost all the cinemas in the urban centres of Ghana have been converted into church halls by the numerous charismatic "International" churches many of which interestingly have sole proprietors.
The beginnings
Arguably, many of these facilities have their genesis in the desire of the British colonial administration to create avenues where the expatriate civil servants could socialise after work. After independence, however, the doors of such facilities were widely flung open to Ghanaians. These buildings were literally beehives of activity in years gone by. Like the golf clubs of old, many very important decisions affecting the lives of several thousands, if not millions of people, were decided on these premises. Many delicate and very important business transactions were also clinched on these premises. How was that possible? A simple theory is that such places were largely seen as "Neutral ground" where people could freely express their views without fear or favour and also learn from one another. Membership also implied that people were seen as equals or colleagues in these facilities. There was mutual respect and knowledge was easily shared and individuals benefited from the discussions and exchanges. The staff who served in these facilities were also properly trained.
The Senior Staff Club of the KNUST stands out prominently among these buildings. It is one of the several buildings designed in the International Style or Modern Movement in architecture on the KNUST campus in the 1960s. Many foreign visitors to the campus have not ceased to admire this building together with the Great Hall, the Mechanical Engineering workshops and the Faculty of Agriculture buildings among others.
Legend has it that the first Vice Chancellor of the KNUST periodically joined Senior Members of the university at the Senior Staff Club and interacted with them and through the process, promising young lecturers were recommended for scholarships to study overseas.
Many of such beneficiaries returned to help build the KNUST (and Ghana) into what we see today. In the 1970s and 80s, KNUST had a number of expatriate senior members on its faculty. Thus there was a table in the Senior Staff Club that became christened as the "United Nations" because there were people from all corners of the globe who interacted on that table during lunch break. Everybody in the group learned from the discussions and some even became better lecturers. There was also the famous "ampedwae" table which had several professors and many young lecturers felt intimidated to go near there. Again, some lecturers, however, benefited immensely from discussions with their senior colleagues.
Other Trending Stories
The snooker and billiards table was well patronised and occasionally, competitions with players from sister universities were held. Occasionally, live music performances were held as well as lectures on interesting topics. Foreign visitors to the KNUST were also entertained in the building and only God knows how many times Agya Koo Nimo has performed in the building over the years. Wives of senior members also used the building and had their regular Ladies Club meetings where discussions about running the Children's Library and other issues affecting them on the campus were decided. Legend again has it that at such meetings, the wives sat according to the rank or status of their husbands.
What is the situation today?
Unfortunately, the Railway Club in Sekondi is no more. The building has been razed to the ground. The Lebanon Club, Ghana Club and particularly the Kumasi Club are crying for refurbishment. All the buildings mentioned are not being patronised today as was the case in the past. Today, the snooker and billiards table in the Senior Staff Club is a sorry sight despite all the refurbishment of the building. The bar still operates and the kitchen still serves meals at lunch time. Arguably, many retired members of staff now patronise the facility more than everybody else. Thanks to the English Premier League and the flat screen television set, the place is filled during the weekend and on Monday evenings when league matches are played. Whereas the junior and senior staff members of the University hardly patronised the facility in the past, these days, people from outside the university do frequent the facility. A lot of renovations have been carried out in the building in the recent past and the building looks more splendid at night when the lights are switched on.
These days, on the KNUST campus, many senior members do not know each other. The fruitful discussions that helped to build the KNUST appears to have evaporated. Some faculties and colleges have instituted tea/coffee rooms but it is only senior members from the same place who meet there. Interaction among the senior members of the entire KNUST at the Senior Staff Club has dwindled. Are we as a people and as a country depriving ourselves the opportunity to discuss issues and ideas and come up with possible solutions from the academia? The Ghanaian public is mesmerised by the chain of
PhDs found on the various campuses and there is the need for more active interaction towards the possible solution of the myriad problems facing the country. Since students from the various faculties find themselves working together on the same projects after graduation why is it not possible for the senior members to also patronise the "Neutral ground", hold meaningful discussions aimed at solving some of the numerous problems Ghana faces whether with green or brown bottles or with soft drinks? Do we need to waste our buildings this way?
The writer is Past Dean, Faculty of Architecture and Building Technology, KNUST and Past Head, Department of Architecture, KNUST,
gwkintsiful@gmail.com