[ 2015-05-09 ]

UG “shortsighted” for throwing out #dumsormuststop vigil – Lloyd Amoah
A lecturer with Ashesi University Dr Lloyd Amoah
has said a decision by the University of Ghana
(UG) to refuse the use of its premises for a vigil
in protest to the erratic power situation smacks
of the institution’s shortsightedness.

UG, Legon, in a tersely worded notice, signed by
Registrar Mercy Haizel-Ashia, said it was neither
aware that its premises was to be the venue of the
celebrity-studded vigil, nor was it in discussions
with the leaders of the vigil toward granting such
a request.

The vigil, which is billed for May 16, 2015 is led
by actress Yvonne Nelson, with support from
colleague actress Lydia Forson and rapper
Sarkodie. A raft of other celebrities have also
pledged to join the vigil, which is meant to bring
the President’s attention to debilitating
effects of the three-year-old power crisis.

Following UG’s notice, the organisers have
secured a new venue, a few minutes from the
University, for the vigil.

Dr Amoah, said in a Facebook post that: “I
disagree with my beloved Legon on that rather
terse legalistic response directed at Sarkodie,
the artistic collective and all of us supporting
his gallant call against dumsor......the
University has always been the fount of free
thought and the search for answers for the
existential questions that ail our society....”

“That it should be mentioned as the site for a
gathering of some of the leading creatives of our
land for such a good cause shows the respect Legon
has in the minds of these patriots. Even if there
was some problem with naming Legon in the promos
for the vigil the university could have dealt with
it far thoughtfully that [sic] this formal almost
hostile approach it has used.

“With this missive Legon shows that it is way
behind the times and rather painfully
shortsighted. The world has changed. The influence
of creatives in society has grown on the back of
bits and bytes. A strategic minded Legon should be
happy creatives like Sarkodie with a continent and
global audience wants to party with her. Sarkodie
could with his money and contacts endow a chair on
hiplife say. He could support the university in
many ways including dropping the name on one of
his always silkily produced and acoustically
pleasing masterpieces.

“Today the gown must understand the streets not
just the World Bank and its ilk or fossilize.
Legon reconsider your position or ruefully miss
the tide of history. Come again my most beloved
alma
mater.......‪#‎notesofapatriot,” the
Afro-China academic said.

Source - Starrfmonline

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