In a conversation with an International Student from the United States of America, who is in the University of Ghana for a student exchange program, there were signaling points on some cultural shocks particularly about the current UTAG strike and the need for them to meet their academic requirements within the stipulated time back in their schools in their home countries.

Right then a thought occurred to me, sadly, “that’s Ghana’ educational reputation being soiled right for obvious reasons.”

What has ensued in Ghana over the past months, stretching from the final quarter of 2021 till now, clearly gives the impression that credits the proverb; “when two elephants fight, the grass suffers.”

The lack of resolve and the ensuing unnecessary banter between UTAG and the government of Ghana gives good reason for us to believe that education, as experienced in Ghana currently, has a long way to go and those who will unfortunately bear the crumbs of this ‘political food fight’ to see who gets satisfied first and their egos tickled, are undoubtedly students in tertiary institutions.

This isn’t to say that demands of better conditions of service should not be made. However, in corporate governance and role fulfillment, timing is everything.

That is to say, that government’s machinery which is to pick up intelligence particularly around employee dissatisfaction, should know and detect when things as strikes (regardless of where it is coming from) are looming.

The best solutions are ones that do not wait till the problems hit, they are ones that are prepared to dilute problems miles ahead. That being said, students as bait, are within range of this game of thrones and may be shot and wounded soon.

Every strike comes with the aggrieved party using an agent as a ransom. University teachers, with their only anchor being students, hope to bank on the frustration of students which translates into uproars for government to do their bidding.

This time, however, this hit is likely to keep grass (students) low for a long time. Universities in Ghana, since 2019, have had to alter academic calendars, improvise, prepare and adapt to systems like online learning that are largely alien to our academic status quo, reducing the number of contact hours between student and lecturers and studying for 6 weeks instead of the usual 16 weeks per semester, parents stretching financial strings to be able to afford fees despite global economic meltdowns, graduations having delayed by months, among others. These cannot be understated.

Fast forward in 2022, when the world has started preaching normalcy and schools doing their best to bring academic work back on track to the full semesterly schedules, we seem to want to retrogress than join the train.

The potential of these delays in finding a middle ground of agreement between the two factions is an altercation to the academic calendar, either stretching it further which could potentially delay academic work and all it entails or push parents to pay more to continue to keep their wards in school. Either way, the ones who bear the brunt are students.

This is a call on the government of Ghana and UTAG to, as soon as possible, bring solvency to this problem and help save the country’s educational reputation and the students who are just pawns in this game, because we seem to be losing more than we are gaining as a country.

Alas, I believe Ghana will prevail.

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The author, Michael Koranteng, is an aspiring NUGS Secretary for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Skills Development.