Sunday, 8 March 2015

Meeting Another Alpha............



I am that I am because I’m the Alpha.  I am the Alpha because that is my surname.  So what does it infer to be the Alpha?

Traditionally and biblically, Alpha means “beginning”. Hence, to be the Alpha denotes that you are the beginning; that one person responsible for starting that change and taking needful responsibility at all times. Limiting it to Ghana’s premier university of communication GIJ, I knew I was going to be the only one carrying the Alpha cross and living life the Alpha way. But my dream became uncertain when Eunice Mintah, a young colleague I worked with at JCP, disclosed to me that there was another Alpha within the confines of GIJ.  I was amazed. Instinctively, I perceived that my dream had been cut short suddenly and unexpectedly. The journalism drive in me was set forth and did it require me to do serious diggings, ferret information about the so called Alpha? What would be his portrait and what mission could he initiate?

At the appropriate time, I had a personal encounter with the eminent Benjamin Alpha. We met co-incidentally when I was helping Mabel Blankson to organize an event titled; “Meeting the Legends”, last semester.  He exhibited the qualities of a sage in the various dimensions of GIJ, both within the student domain and administration at large. Truthfully, he was very instrumental in helping us put together a wonderful event. Actually, he was the moderator. Behind the scenes, I realized that the Benjamin under discussion shared a lot with me apart from just a name. From there onwards, whenever we met, both within and outside campus, we utilized minutes and sometimes hours, talking about issues that dominated the media scenes in conjunction with its effects on students and the general wellbeing of the entire populace. I must confess that I categorized myself as good but Benjamin Alpha was extremely better or the best if I was to be objective. He was wary of the facts and was never coward of rubbing them on your face anytime you engage in banter with him.
Ever since I associated myself with Benjamin Alpha, I have witnessed positive influential roles he has played in numerous activities I have engaged in. Key among them has been his assessment and contribution to the Citizenline initiative which was adjourned the best Idea at Inform Ghana’s “Walk the Talk Contest” last year. His immense contribution to the “News Shot” platform, a free newswire on WhatsApp that provides subscribers with news on the go, is worth mentioning.  But the truth is it is not the kind of relationship that exist between us that you should be interested in, because the script has already been written. Rather, I entreat you to exercise an unbiased interest in his achievements as the dice is about to be cast for leadership slots in our cherished institution.

I present to you THE REAL Alpha, whom right from the word go, had shown glimpses of leadership qualities. In Junior High School, he was the head prefect of S.I. P.L.  School  Complex. Credited as the second best B.E.C.E student in 2007 in the Western Region, Alpha had the opportunity to attend Mfantsipim  School. Fast forward to Senior High School, his confidence and hard work earned him the position as the Vice President of the Writers and Debaters Club. He never discomfited for he supervised the rebirth of “Botaepa”, the official Mfantsipim School Magazine which previously interred and was condemned to history as the Magazine’s editor and also led Mfantsipim to win many laurels in debate as head of the school’s debating team. On the backdrop of this, he was awarded as the most Outstanding Debater in 2010-2011 by the Mfantsipim Old Boys Association.

When Benjamin Alpha stepped foot on GIJ campus in 2012, he wasted no time in demonstrating his ability to actualize his experiences and acumen in leadership positions. Consequently, he became the first level 200 student, since the inception of the 2009 GIJ SRC constitution, to become the Attorney General and head of legal aid committee. A position which hitherto had been the preserve of level 300’s and 400’s. Benjamin Alpha also served as member of the Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS) week celebration committee 2014 and is currently the General Secretary for GUPS.  It is this same gentleman who made GIJ proud earlier this year when he represented the Institute in a debate on TV3’s NEW DAY PROGRAMME.

It is based on all this remarkable achievements that I have opted to whole heartedly support the Alpha agenda and support him to become the next General Secretary of our SRC.
Ladies and gentlemen, I officially on behalf of the ALLIANCE to GET ALPHA ENDORSED (AGAE) , the organized movement for Benjamin Alpha’s agenda, introduce to you our General Secretary hopeful.

#Don’t Say Secretary
#SayAlpha

It’s our season to reason…

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