EC asked to consider proposal from all quarters
A former rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to consider proposals from all quarters, including that of former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, asking the EC to go fully electronic.
He said Nana Konadu’s statement that “our Indian friends will be willing to help us by allowing us to use electronic machines used in their elections from one of the states,” would go a long way to ensure a relative integrity of the electoral process.
“We can also put in a mechanism whereby every polling station result can be put on a nationally verifiable database and projected on a screen in the regional centres. This technology to do so is available, simple and inexpensive.
“I believe that even if the EC requires additional one billion dollars or GH¢4 billion to ensure credible elections, there are Ghanaians willing to contribute towards that along with our development partners,” he said.
Prof. Adei made the call at the first Founder’s Day lectures at the All Nations University College in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
It was organised by the Department of Biomedical Engineering of the university on the theme: “Celebrating our Leaders.”
Leadership
Touching on the importance of leadership in nation building, Prof. Adei explained that in the past political leaders in Africa blamed their woes on colonialism, globalisation, and economic exploitation; however, the situation was not so today.
He said despite the challenges facing Africa, there was hope for the future since several factors were coming together to make “our transition shorter despite short-term disappointments and reversals.”
These factors include global political, governance and economic trends, ICT revolution, the diasporan factor and increasing levels of education, growth and political awareness.
Assessment
A renowned heart surgeon, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, who spoke on the topic: “Assessment of the contribution of private universities in Ghana to the development of Ghana,” called on the government to support private universities in the country.
He said private universities such as All Nations University College were contributing tremendously to the development of the country and must, therefore, be made to benefit from the GETFund, subsidies and scholarships, since such assistance was national and must cater for all Ghanaian students as their parents paid taxes to the government.
He also called on the government to give the university access to the Kuntunse Satellite Station, near Nsawam, since it had a space science centre for its students.
“Private universities have also helped in checking brain drain, since certain people no longer move out of the country to look for greener pastures,” he added.
Mentoring
He commended the university for mentoring people to improve upon their academic qualifications.
A lecturer at the Koforidua Polytechnic, Dr Kwaku Owusu Acheampong, expressed the belief that Ghana had a bright future despite the current challenges.