An open letter from University of Ghana Lecturers for NDC to Ghanaians

An open letter from University of Ghana Lecturers for NDC to Ghanaians: Vote for Change on December 7th  

Fellow Ghanaians, 

We, the University of Ghana lecturers for John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 elections, numbering about 250 drawn from various Schools, Centers, Institutes, and Departments across the university, recognize that our beloved nation stands at a crossroads, its very soul-trembling in the face of unprecedented decay.

As we approach the pivotal December 7th, 2024 elections, we feel compelled to raise our voices and urge you, the people, to respond to the clarion call for change. 

For too long, we have borne witness to the systematic erosion of our cherished institutions, the dimming of hope in the eyes of our youth, and the unraveling of the social fabric that once held our nation together.

Our Ghana, once a beacon of progress and prosperity, now reels from the devastating blows of economic mismanagement, systemic corruption, and the deliberate dismantling of the very foundations upon which we built our dreams. 

Consider the stark realities that confront us: Our once-mighty currency, the symbol of our national pride, has been brought to its knees, leaving our people struggling to make ends meet. Our water bodies, the lifeblood of our communities, lie devastated, robbing our people of the most basic of necessities.

Our pensioners, the very backbone of this nation, have been stripped of their dignity, their hard-earned savings ravaged by the greed of the few. 

Our indigenous financial institutions, the pillars of our economic independence, have been deliberately collapsed, leaving our youth to wander the streets in search of non existent jobs.

Our healthcare system gasps for survival, while our educational infrastructure crumbles before our very eyes, betraying the promise of a brighter future for our children. 

The architects of this national tragedy now seek your mandate to continue their reign of destruction. But we, the custodians of knowledge and truth, cannot remain silent. 

Our academic integrity and our commitment to the betterment of our beloved Ghana compel us to speak out, to stand as the conscience of our society. 
 
We have seen firsthand the dimming of opportunities for our youth, the stifling of their potential by a system that has lost its moral compass.

When our students look to us, their eyes filled with uncertainty about their future in this land, our hearts break with the weight of their unspoken fears. 

This is not the Ghana we dreamed of, the Ghana we fought for, the Ghana we vowed to build for generations to come. This is a Ghana that has been betrayed, a Ghana that has been robbed of its dignity and its promise. 

But, fellow Ghanaians, the power to reset our course lies in your hands. John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress present not just an alternative but a vision of restoration and hope.

The party’s pledge to introduce a 24-hour economy is a bold reimagining of our nation's potential, while its proven track record in championing improved free senior high school education demonstrates a commitment to sustainable development. 

This election is not about partisan politics; it is about justice for the eight innocent souls whose lives were tragically cut short in 2020. It is about creating a Ghana where our nurses and teachers no longer need to seek greener pastures abroad, a Ghana where trust in our institutions is restored and the dignity of our citizenship is reclaimed. 

To our security services, we say: Your allegiance is to the Constitution, not to any individual or party. Your integrity is the cornerstone of our democracy, and it must remain inviolable. 

To every Ghanaian, we urge you to document any irregularities you witness and use your phones to record evidence of electoral malpractices. 

Be vigilant, but remain peaceful. Be firm but steadfast in your commitment to the rule of law. 

Fellow citizens, we anticipate the question: Why have we, as university lecturers, chosen to step beyond the comfortable confines of academic neutrality? 

The answer lies in the sacred trust we hold as guardians of knowledge and truth. 

When a nation stands on the precipice of disaster, silence becomes not neutrality, but complicity.

Our role as educators extends beyond teaching theorems and theories – we are tasked with nurturing critical thinking and moral courage in our students.

How can we teach ethics while turning a blind eye to the wholesale looting of our nation? 

How can we lecture about good governance while watching our democracy crumble? The ivory tower was never meant to be a fortress of isolation but a lighthouse guiding society through darkness. Our academic credentials are not mere decorations – they carry with them the responsibility to distinguish truth from falsehood, progress from regression, hope from despair. When we see a leader and a party whose vision aligns with the prosperous Ghana we envision, we can tell, and our conscience demands that we speak this truth plainly. 

We have chosen to name John Mahama and the NDC not out of partisan fervor, but because the evidence of their superior vision and commitment to Ghana's restoration is clear and compelling.

Our endorsement stems not from political allegiance, but from our professional judgment as analysts of policy and society. 

To remain neutral in times of moral crisis is to side with the oppressor.

As Kwame Nkrumah taught us, the university must be the conscience of the nation.

Today, that conscience calls us to speak, to guide, and to stand firmly on the side of Ghana's redemption. 

The future of our nation hangs in the balance. As academics who have dedicated our lives to nurturing the next generation of leaders, we implore you: On December 7th, 2024, let your thumb speak for Ghana, we know you can do it. Vote John Mahama and the NDC to restore hope, rebuild trust, and reignite the Ghanaian dream. 

Ghana must rise again. Ghana will rise again. 

Let us make history together 

Signed: 
University of Ghana Lecturers for NDC  

Media Contacts: 
Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse (0244983637) 
Dr. Abdul Karim Hakib (0244841692) 
Dr. Johnny Andoh-Arthur (0545903898)