FOUNDATION FOR SOCIETAL SECURITY Concept Paper 2009

“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, then it cannot save the few who are rich.”

- John F. Kennedy

In recent times, the idea of free society has become an eminent matter for discussion on several platforms. Politicians, religious leaders, social commentators and free thinkers dexterously discuss this matter with passion and seriousness. Along the length and breath of Africa and Ghana specifically, freedom of speech, the right to; life, religion, education and other forms of citizenry rights are touted daily by our leaders as virtues they are either aspiring to or as their achievements. As to whether these rights are fully enjoyed by the citizens or not, are matters for investigation and discussion.

Foundation for Societal Security (FSS) seeks to advocate for realistic implementation of policies, programmes and projects that will secure the future of our young democratic states in Africa. This motive is informed by the need to establish strong foundations for the young and vulnerable in our society to prepare them adequately to be in position to face the increasingly competitive nature of the global village which is our perpetual habitation as long as we remain mortals.

In Ghana for example, the 1992 constitution in article 25 declares the right to education. Further to this, the constitution in section 1 clause (a) of the same article makes education free compulsory and available to all. This indeed is the dream of the Ghanaian government but what we realise in the country is rather a recipe to set a disbelieving agenda in the educational structure of the country.

With the introduction of the school feeding programme, school buildings are in recent times overcrowded with pupils who struggle to make meaning of what their good teachers try to say in the class rooms. Some pupils are allowed to live in buildings that are what can be described as death threats to living beings, yet what option do they have?

Simple analysis tells us that children in the country are not given the best of education. The culminating effect of poor education has been manifest in the heaping numbers of school fall outs who are always 10 times candidates of unemployment. The fact that it is written that the hand that worketh not shall not feed means that it is a natural law for the unemployed to look for any possible employment in order survive. What do we see today? Crime is on the ascendancy like a crescendo, use of all possible means to make money and other unacceptable social behaviours in the society make us all unsafe. (Both rich and poor, power holders and subjects) Who said we need liberty at the expense of security. “Most people want security in this world, not liberty” – H.L. Mencken

While the police and law enforcing agencies are doing their best to curb crime and social mishaps, we believe in the correctional process of the society. It is our earnest conviction that denial of some fundamental human rights to the young and vulnerable in the society has grown with impunity and has resulted in an unsafe society that even threatens the right of the strong in society today. We may be tempted to think that the good number of schools and training institutions serves it right. But do we just pass the children through or we give them quality education.

What becomes the fate of the village school graduate who at times went to school to meet no teacher? He migrates to the city with no skill and who cares for him. What becomes the fate of the primary school pupil who failed because every time it rained they had no class room to stay in? What becomes the fate of the blind man who graduates and no one want to employ?

The time is now or never. Join the liberation train in fighting for good educational policies for our young and vulnerable members of the society for the future belongs to them.

General Secretary

0277189505, 0245601193

Email: fssghana@gmail.com

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