Fee-free education in Ghana

At the heart of the Old Testament narrative is the Pentateuch (Torah). Right smack in the middle of the Torah is Leviticus meaning "relating to the descendants of Levi starting with Aaron’s sons as the priests. The origin can possibly be located in the context of the post-exilic period some 2,500 years after creation. It paints a picture of the ethical and ritual life, what we might call a priestly impulse. It sheds lights on the connection between priesthood and people as mediators representing the people to God and God to the people.
Among many ritual laws introduced by the book of Leviticus is the law of tithing first revealed as payment only on the increase of the land and animals (Leviticus 27:30–31). The Hebrew and Greek words for “tithe” both simply mean “a tenth.” The Encyclopedia Americana defines the general tithe as “the tenth part of produce or other income, paid voluntarily or under the compulsion of law for the benefit of religious institutions, the support of priests and pastors, and the relief of those in need.” The introduction of this law became necessary as a means of supporting the tribe of Levi (Levites) who were chosen as priests of God hence were not given portions of land inheritance when the Israelite reached the promised land after the exodus from Egypt. All the other eleven tribes (representing sons of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel) each had a share of piece of land for agricultural produce except Levi, being dedicated to the work of God. Another reason was to support the work of God and the needy in Israel.
The mainstream contemporary church insists that the tithe is an unchanging biblical standard, or eternal moral principle, which reflects the character of God, therefore, exact tithing of ten percent of one’s gross income should be observed by all Christians. In addition, free-will offerings are to be given thus all forms of offertories including 'Kofi ne Ama' as well as harvests are collected at local congregations. Without exception, the tithe must be returned to God first thus tithe  is used in paying salaries of gospel workers and ­ providing social programmes. Some smaller churches also use the tithe for building funds and payment of all church debts. Other necessities such as shelter, child care, medicine, food, heat, and clothing must be given less priority. The church is obligated to teach tithing because it is a biblical command.

 Over the weekend, the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Dr. Mensa Otabil delivered a sermon at which he is purported to have said "education can never be free". The main thrust of his thinking is "somebody is paying for it...“Nothing is free, you are paying for it. Only you are being told you didn’t pay. How do you pay for it? Through taxation. Who pays the taxes? Me.” You see when they come to you and say things like fee-free education. You are happy; take your children to school. Government is good. He added that the only reason why Ghanaians will believe such promises is because “ignorance makes it easy for people to accept anything”.

“I don’t believe in free education. I said pay me well my due and let me have the joy of paying my own child’s school fees so that my child is not a property of the state. He’s my own child and I have the dignity of a father to pay for my own child. When my child grows up I say I paid your fees.” He said Ghanaians should demand quality before believing anything that is offered as free because a freebie will be of no value to the individual.

“If someone tells you anything is free, ask them what is the quality? Because if you don’t know the quality don’t take it free.”

He said people should ask those offering the freebies if Ghanaians have any control over what is being offered before they buy into the ideas. He added that the when one is offered a free item, even when it is bad, one cannot complain.
I have just few questions to ask:

1. Does Pastor Dr. Mensa Otabil apply these principles to collecting tithes and free-will offerings at ICGC congregations?

2. By virtue of ICGC priests owing large firms like GAMA company operators of TV3 and First BanC among others, are they not earning enough income to support themselves and their families to negate the law and application of tithing and free-will offerings at ICGC congregation?

3. Does the Central University College where Dr. Mensa Otabil is also the Chancellor operate and offer scholarship schemes as well as organise Poor Fund at ICGC congregations?

4. Do members of ICGC congregation subscribe to NHIS and has Dr. Mensa Otabil explained to them that payment of  2.5% NHI Levy on VAT affected goods and services means NHIS is not free and good?

5. Do members of ICGC congregation work at NYEP where Talk Tax from telephone and internet users is used to pay them?

6. Do members of ICGC congregation attend public run basic schools where Capitation Grant from taxes is giving fee-free education and to some free feeding as well as GETFUND removing 'so-called Schools Under Trees' and distributing free laptops, exercise books, and uniforms?

7. Is Dr. Mensa Otabil by this position implying that there is a public salary pay discrimination policy against citizens from Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions hence fee-free education for their children for the past 55 years and still counting?

8. Lastly but apparently not the least, does Pastor Mensa Otabil pay his clergy and gospel workers so well that they pave their own roads, treat their own pipe-borne water, refuse fuel subsidy and many other public goods and services?

Opinion, they say are like noses, each of us has one. Personally, given the opportunity to proffer a position on the education debate, I would have offered a modified scheme rather than wholesale free for all. This is not because people do not deserve it or the state cannot afford it, my perspective relates to what Ghanaians do to anything tagged as 'aban dea' (belonging to the state) while keeping an eye on sustainability. If nobody is questioning the right of children in Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions to fee-free education and we all admit that Ghana has been able to sustain it for 55 years, there is no reason adding on the extra remaining seven regions of Volta, Greater Accra, Central, Western, Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Eastern Regions should raise questions about sustainability and quality. Are there no evidences to show that products of the fee-free education from northern Ghana are equal in quality to any part of the world? By such logic are those people raising quality concerns attempting to shoot down or question the credentials of the sitting President John Dramani Mahama who is a product of fee-free education? Indeed was his father not well paid as a Minister of State at the time he sent little John Mahama away from Achimota School in Accra to Tamale to enjoy fee-free education?
The truth for me is quite simply this; there is nothing wrong for any Ghanaian be it from the clergy or any other profession critiquing and taking a personal position on any matter of public interest. That is a constitutional and a fundamental human right. In fact I detest people who argue that the clergy should stay away from politics, a position even our constitution abhors. The constitution even nowhere unlike the case of chieftaincy, debars the clergy from active partisan politics. This evidently can be deduced and seen from the actions of Prophet Tigya of the DFP (PNDC) and Prophet Nkansah of NVP. My concern about Dr. Mensa-Otabil's pronouncement stems from the logic he advanced to support his position. Having written a thesis on care and support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), and having been part of my church's efforts to support and address the problems confronting the less privileged in society, I can boldly and unashamedly stand up and argue their cause. Oh yes, there are privileged couple of citizens as Dr. Mensa Otabil, nonetheless the concept of the broom reminds us of the strength in numbers. I am sure as the General Overseer of the ICGC he is not oblivious of the prominence given to widows, the sick, the poor, orphans, and such people in the Bible from which I believe his church ICGC is indoctrinated. I only hope that on sober reflections, he will come back and 'clarify' his argument. My assumption is that perhaps we either do not get the crux of his position or even we misunderstand him. It is also very possible he intended a different explanation but got it all twisted in the course of delivering his sermon. 
The skill of communicating is to create a context in which other people can think. As things stand presently, I can only imagine reasons for his thinking are flawed, outrageous and if stretched any further, the most logical conclusion that can be drawn is that religion in the general sense keeps the people listless and sedated as an opiate or opium leaves people. When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. If the eye cannot see it, the hand cannot make it, if the tongs will not hold it, the hammer cannot hit it, if you cannot remember it, forget it. Just a little reminder that those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.
If there is any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone, sharing something. It's almost impossible to succeed. But... who cares, really? The answer must be in the attempt. Can President John Dramani Mahama's father say "the President 's my own child and I have the dignity of a father to have paid for John Mahama's school fees"?
Pleasant debate folks! <3