THE UNWARRANTED politicization of public institutions which reared its ugly head at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took over office is worsening.
�The institute has virtually been taken over by the NDC and the facility now looks like their ideological institute,� a staff who wished to remain anonymous told DAILY GUIDE.
According to sources, the institute has promoted all lecturers perceived to be NDC sympathizers but added, �most of these staff do not merit promotion.�
The source said those perceived to be sympathizers of the opposition parties particularly the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were hounded continuously.
�People who started lecturing there recently are given top posts while their colleagues who have held the fort for decades are thrashed.�
Admissions according to one source were now being conducted along tribal lines and about 50 percent of students selected this year for example were people from particular regions.
�I don�t know what they are seeking to achieve. It is dangerous and we must take steps to address this problem. The discrimination is getting out of hand.�
Another source said that a certain vice rector who went on mandatory retirement had been engaged as a consultant because he was an NDC sympathizer when there were others who could have been given the job.
To make matters worse, the said former vice rector collects GH� 5,600 monthly as salary and has been given Toyota Fortuner SUV free of charge, all drawn from the institute�s meagre resources.
Currently, all three top officials of the institute including the retired lecturer ostensibly have two vehicles: a saloon car and four-wheel drive.
�The place has become the hub of NDC activities and you are not expected to criticise the ruling government. A staff was said to have been questioned by a top lecturer who was put there by government for saying the NPP would be better managers of the country.�
�You cannot openly support the opposition. Once they realise you are not with them or speak a particular language they take steps to hound you.�
�They removed some heads of departments who were active in their duties and replaced them with people whose integrity nobody can vouch for. Some of these guys give exams questions to female students.�
The source said some lecturers had given themselves professorial ranks and had been drawing salaries to that effect.
According to the source, a particular lecturer who was recently elevated has been acting as if he is in charge of the institute and is the brain behind the haunting of perceived NPP sympathizers.
�Some lecturers go about asking students about their political affiliation and once you reject the NDC, it becomes grounds for victimization.�
�These lecturers have too much hatred for the NPP to the extent that they do not even want to see students declare that they belong to that party.�
�The SRC elections for instance was hijacked by the NDC and made sure their sympathizers got the posts. Many students have as a result lost interest in the institute�s activities.�
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