Encounter with sachets and cans

By Charles Andoh

“Let us do what is right by all Standards; right by human Standards and right by God’s Standard and we shall overcome.” – Prof. John Evans Atta Mills

Somewhere last year, 1^st November 2011, I stepped my feet fully onto the campus of the prestigious Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ); precisely the Upper Lecture Hall for my first lecture. Certainly, I was glad after the first lecture and the subsequent ones.

You wouldn’t believe what happened after some few days.  My eyes and mind started fighting each other for a particular reason.  My mind asked my eyes that “haven’t you been seeing litters in the various lecture halls always?”  But my eyes were very adamant and told my mind also to act.

My body, soul and spirit then came to terms with them after sometime and understood why they always fought on GIJ Campus.

So they all came together and met at the Seminar Room to find out from the Various Litters Association on GIJ Campus such as Sachet Water Litters Association, Empty Fruit Juice Cans Association, Banana Peels Association as to why they don’t want to stay or live in their abode, litter bins; but prefer GIJ lecture halls to study with students.  For my mouth, he was very furious and chastised these Associations.  And guess what Mr. Reader?  During the meeting they said, “Sir, it is not our fault to be living in your lecture halls; after all, we don’t have legs to walk in there.  Rather, it is some of your colleagues who normally buy us from food vendours and after consuming our contents, they leave us there.  Therefore we had no choice than to stay, though, we find that uncomfortable.”

I immediately became sober and fell on my knees as I broke into tears.  But thanks be to my mind and mouth – they consoled my eyes and quickly told my hand to put something on paper to advice my colleagues.  But he always resisted and said they will change.

However, the situation seems to be escalating this semester.  Now, my eyes have also observed that the various litters Association have started sitting on top of walls and the worse of all, lecturers’ tables in the various lecture halls before and even sometimes after lectures.

Mr. Reader, I know it may sound a bit weird but an excursion to the various lecture halls on campus after lectures will confirm this piece.  How many times haven’t you seen empty sachet water, banana peels, toffee and biscuit packs in the various lecture halls?

Yes, I’ve got it! I know the next question you want to ask is, can such students eat and leave the litters in their living rooms?  Hmm, I guess you’re thinking like myself and will say, “They can’t do that”, so why GIJ lecture halls and walls?  What wrong have these lecture halls committed by allowing students to sit in and study?

The funny aspect is that these are the same people receiving training to become responsible Journalists “m’ano yi oo”, in this country one day to talk and write about the misdeeds of people in society in order to transform them.  What an Irony!

“Charity they say begins at home”, so if you continue this way, what then do you write about one day?  Perhaps, your own attitude I guess. 

Wait Mr. Reader, my mind wants to communicate to you and my colleagues that the next time you buy any food make sure you put the litter into the rubbish bins around and not the lecture halls; they’ve done nothing wrong to be humiliated.

Tell a friend to tell others that, it is wrong to litter GIJ lecture halls with rubbish.

Always be mindful that rubbish do not litter by themselves, people do.  So let’s stop.

Together we can make GIJ lecture halls and even the campus very clean and conducive to live in.  Remember, no one will come from outside to keep the school clean, but rather our individual responsibility.

Thanks to my hand for settling the dispute between my mind and eyes by writing to reveal this act by students.  And thanks to you Mr. Reader for telling a friend to change his attitude.

Until we meet another time, I leave you with this, let us do what is right and surely, we shall overcome.  Over to you, the bosom friend of litters.

Please drop it in wae!

Writers Email: Charlesandoh28@yahoo.com