REPORT ON PUBLIC LECTURE 2018 HELD AT UEW ON 17TH MARCH 2018.

CENTER FOR BETTER SOCIETY ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH (CEBSAR-Africa)

THEME: BUILDING BETTER SOCIETY IN GHANA: NEED FOR PARADIGM

SHIFTS.

CEBSAR-Africa from Ghana met in Winneba on 17th March 2018 at the University of Education

(UEW) J.N. Aryeetey Auditorium, South Campus for their 1st public lecture. By 10:30 am 17th

March, we had all arrived. The program had begun at exactly 10:36 am with a welcome address

and introduction by the MC Jennifer Afrienya, a student from the University of Education,

Winneba.

Executives of CEBSAR–AFRICA. From the right is Mr. Albert Kobina Mensah, CEO CEBSAR

–AFRICA, Mr. Bismark Kobina Yankson Programs Manager, Mr. Peter Bismark Kwofie, CEO

ILAPI – Ghana and Mr. Eric Owusu Vice President CEBSAR – AFRICA.

MC, Jennifer Afrienya, a student from the University of Education Winneba inviting someone to

begin the program with a prayer. The program began at 10:36 am with an opening prayer by

Agnes Quansah.

Mr. Eric Owusu Vice President, CEBSAR–AFRICA, giving an introduction and a speech on

corruption in Africa, our role as youth. Excerpts from the speech is given as:

“The importance of education to the socio – economics development of any nation cannot be

underestimated and it is against this backdrop that CEBSAR and ILAPI-Africa chose this

university as the venue for its first ever public lecture. We believe strongly that, for our message

to get the necessary impact on this nation and by extension, Africa, then there would be the need

to have a proper incubator for it and there cannot be a better incubator for our message than

University of Education. We are very much delighted to tie our apron string to those who have

been trained or are being trained to shape the conscience of society for the better. Derek Bok

couldn’t have said it better, if you think education is expensive try, ignorance. It has become so

highly important especially in these times when citizens of this continent are being made to

believe that mysterious snakes and monkeys have started swallowing and chewing their monies.

So CEBSAR and ILAPI are eternally grateful to you all for coming to listening to us on how we

can all begin this journey of building a better society that is fair and just for ourselves and for the

future generations. CEBSAR hate corruption. We can exclude our relationship but we will face

the dangers in future. What is behind our religion is our immorality.

What is the fate of the Africa youths today?

The youths of Africa are on a top of a slope, they see hope

As they get closer they are met with a Taser

All seem gloomy in the midst of plenty

A land full of gold but no goal

A land full of light but no vision

The youth wallop in poverty whilst their leaders ride in Bugatti

They see no library all they see is bribery

Hmmm whilst they are done with pity, their “leaders” see a fortunate stroke of serendipity

Was there no revelation for our civilization?

Are they “leaders” or slayers?

The hearts of our youths bleeds for the lack of dreams

They are always in tears just to express their fears for the unknown

Why has Africa allowed its youths to run away from their own shadows?

Why are our brave youths being turned into slaves?

As they become pale they are buried in grave and we watch and wave.

Do we need a license to have a conscience?

Do we need to be told to be bold to know what the future hold?

Ooh my love for Africa has gone cold.

This poem sums up the tragedy that confronts us as youths and as Africans.

But do we just have to be sad and mad of our predicament or become loud for silent crowd? This

is where we at CEBSAR – AFRICA community choose to be loud but our loudness cannot get

the necessary decibel for the ear of our leaders without your voices and this is what brought us

here this morning. To achieve a better society that we yearn for, we need a strong constituent of

fearless souls not timorous ones to drive the change agenda. That is why we must get the

message right here and that message is CEBSAR –AFRICA hates corruption and we shall

continue to do everything within our power to fight it”, Mr. Eric Owusu said. Mr. Eric Owusu

also made mention of unemployment being the first result of corruption. We must not keep

deluding ourselves that slogan will get the job done instead of strict adherence to the proper rules

and regulations.

Mr. Peter Bismark Kwofie CEO – ILAPI-GHANA at the public lecture speaking about “what

you must know?”

Speaking about corruption Mr. Kwofie made mentioned of the fact that we the citizens are those

who employ the Government. The Government is a hungry man. It is not possible for an

employee to pay an employer or find jobs for the employers. As an employer, you need to

question your employees when they are not performing. Also, journalists were the worse 4th arm

of Government. They negotiate for people but not for themselves. He spoke briefly and charged

everyone to question the status quo.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS- “Grassroot initiative to fighting corruption and the how”

Panel discussion on-going at the public lecture. From the immediate left is Mr. Peter Bismark

Kwofie, CEO ILAPI–GHANA, Selassie, student representative from UEW, Mr. Eric Owusu

Vice President –CEBSARAFRICA and a professor.

During the panel discussions, the speakers made mention of inequality pushing corruption. There

is no self confidence in students. For instance, the fear of being transferred as teachers made

them timid. “In the early days, teachers were more passionate in their work but now is the other

way round”, one of the discussants opined. They added that corruption is not all about money,

but being at a place where you don’t fit in. Let respect the law but not the people. We must be

loyal to principles and not individuals and collaboration was the key.

Mr. Peter Bismark Kwofie asked what changes students will like to bring on campus. Mr.

Selassie said that inequality pushes students into corruption and that people feel that they are

more important than others. “Looking at the SRC dues being paid, students do not know what

they are used for. We should check our finance especially with SRC as students”, Selassie

opined.

Mr. Peter Bismark Kwofie asked Mr. Eric Owusu whether students are into corruption. He

answered by saying we think that when somebody is quiet that means the person is respectful.

We must do away with that attitude. There is no confident in students.

“Are the teachers transparent to students? The fear of been transferred had made teachers timid.

We must learn to sacrifice. As there been change in olden days and now?” Mr. Eric Owusu

The other panel said, in the olden days the teachers had passion for the work. But now it is not

so, it’s all about money. “People think that the work is not for them but the government. They

had forgotten that we are the government. The various leaders must give the students clear

account. Passion for the work is important. In our culture a child has no right against elderly

ones. We should understand that culture is dynamic”, a panel member said.

THE BETTER SOCIETY AGENDA: THE ROADMAP

The guest speaker, Mr. Albert Kobina Mensah CEO-CEBSARAFRICA speaking on “the better

society agenda: the roadmap”. He gave the following outline in his presentation:

Presentation outline

• Ghana and better society agenda

• Corruption in Ghana

• Causes of corruption

• Effects of corruption in Ghana

• Need for paradigm shifts to creating better society

The objective of the program was to

• Educate the students on building a better society agenda in Ghana.

• Equip students on the causes and effects of corruption in Ghana.

• Help students to know the need for paradigm shifts.

• Educate the students on how to fight corruption.

The guest speaker Mr. Albert K. Mensah made mentioned of building better society agenda in

Ghana: Need for paradigm shifts. He gave the following example from Amital Etzioni, The good

society, page 83-96:

“…in 1990s workers’ salaries increased by 32% while the chief executive officer salaries

increased by 535%. Such high and rising levels of inequality threaten to split society into two

separate camps; one is bit better off, but falls ever further behind other is affluent and gaining. A

good society would not only secure a “generous minimum” for all its members, but would also

labour to cap inequality by slowing down increases in the slices of the total resources gained by

the higher strata”.

He said a good society becomes better when one gets what is due him/her. Also, a good society

is achieved when we block corruption. The causes of corruption according to him are

competition, selfishness, greediness, irresponsible followership, bad leadership, ethnicity and

tribalism. We should not preach virtue and practice vice. The effects of corruption are people

dying because of no respect for human beings, energy crisis, 60 % of water bodies polluted, no

respect for children, road accidents and cities are in filth. He therefore emphasized that there is

need for paradigm shift (CEBSAR approach). Mr. Mensah further reiterated that the paradigm

shifts will include the role of the media, curriculum restricting, new crop of leaders, right and

responsible followers, the police, ensuring full accountability and questioning our leaders.

CLOSING REMARKS

Mr. Bismark Yankson gave the closing remarks. In his remarks, he made mention of the

CEBSAR setting up the club in various schools and the University of Education Winneba is the

pioneer of the CEBSAR club. The program was climaxed with feedbacks and closing remarks

from the various speakers and participants. Snacks were severed from 1:20 pm – 1:30 pm and the

program ended at 1:34pm with individuals leaving for their various hotels. Students who

patronized the conference found it very useful and gave it a very high rating in their discussions.

CEBSAR and ILAPI Ghana aim to extend the program in various schools and University of

Winneba was the pioneers. The conference ended with a quote from Colossians 3:23, “Whatever

you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”.

Mr. Bismark Yankson giving the closing remarks

Participants at the 1st Public Lecture at The University of Education Winneba. 17th March 2018

at J. N. Aryeetey Auditorium, South Campus.

Passionate students giving their detailed information at the close of the public lecture

BUDGET FOR THE PUBLIC LECTURE 2018

QUANTITY DESCRIPTION UNIT PRICE

(GH)

AMOUNT

(GH)

FUND RECEIVED

TOTAL RECIEVED

Ebo Yankson

Haruna

Eric

Sammy

Peter

Odek

200.00

100

200

50

50

105

200.00

100

200

50

50

105

Grand Total 705.00

EXPENSES

RECEIPTS

Bottle water 7 pack 9.00 63.00

Pastries 80 pieces 105.00

Fruit Juice 6 pack 12 .00 72.00

Logistics (PA

System)

40

Appreciation

(drinks & water

freezing)

20.00

Breakfast for

one person

10 10

Media 20 20

Miscellaneous 40 40

Total 370.00

TRANSPORTATION TNT from Tema 3 100 100

TNT 25 25

Total 125.00

Grand Total 495.00

SURPLUS 210.00