A former General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr. James Kobina Bomfeh aka Kabila has observed that if today’s leaders are a problem then the kind of citizenship on offer should be re-evaluated.
Speaking at a forum of students and teachers at Prempeh College on the theme, “Teacher-student relationship; the key to holistic excellence,” Kabila noted it is only when the fine balance between teaching and learning is discovered and appreciated that the school can aim at excellence.
This, he said, was the intention of the forebears of the school when they conceived, thought and created the institution to prepare citizens for a stronger nation in the shortlived 1896 Asanteman Development plan under Nana Agyeman Prempeh I.
According to him, it was to prepare young men for citizenship, hence the motto: “Ɔman papa fapem ne suban pa” shortened as ‘Suban ne Nimdeɛ’.
“It is from responsible citizens that we can have responsible and responsive leaders. If our leaders today, are a problem, then we better rethink the kind of citizenship on offer.
“The school, like any learning environment, requires certain standards and principles and the ethos that will ensure growth, continuous improvement and constant evaluation.
“Among such are; Discipline – respect of time, punctuality and stewardship; Tolerance – listening openly to what others have to say regardless of what we hold to be true; sincerity – brutal frankness; sacrifice – giving off self; courage – fearlessness; love and humility”, Kabila added.
He noted that the motto of the SRC since 1884 when it was first established in Scotland, ‘To fight for the cause of students through dialogue and a philosophy of nonviolence,’ is the spirit behind the day’s forum solutions to nagging problems could be discussed openly.
This, he said, can only be achieved through dispassionate engagement at the forum and with respect and candour.
“Prempeh College was established among four competing interests; Manhyia, the colonial State, Methodist and Presbyterian traditions, yet they forged a common ground to make it work. Yes, we can make it work too.
“Times have changed, but principles are eternal. I want to end with a maxim from Manhyia. It is that; ɔbra yɛ ɔko. Wo ko ma man na annyɛ yie a, wo ko ma wo kuro. Sɛ wo ko ma wo kuro na annyɛ yie a, wo ko ma wo abusua. Sɛ wo ko ma wo abusua na annyɛ yie a, wo ko ma wo ho. Daadaa, wo gyina ako no!
“In sum, it means; life is war. If you fight for your nation and fail, you can fight for your state. If you fail in the fight for your state, you can fight for your clan or family. If you fail in the family enterprise too, you have none but yourself to fight for. Daily, life is war and we are each at the battlefront.
“Fight to the end. Remember, you always have to consider what for or how you want to be remembered and what legacy do you want to leave at Prempeh College”, Kabila concluded.
