On Friday, June 4th, all Vandals (both past and present) will be heading to the University of Ghana Staff Village as the fraternity organizes the 2025 edition of the jamboree. The Jamboree is an annual social event that draws Vandals from across the world back home to bond, have fun, and rekindle the spirit of vandalism.
The jamboree is very important to every Vandal, especially the young ones, as it presents the opportunity to connect with senior fellows who are making a meaningful impact in industry, academia, governance, sports, entertainment, and more.
It also serves as a time to release stress. During this event, lots of fun activities go on, especially, singing our unique inspirational ‘morale’ songs.
Giving Back to the Society
Beyond entertainment, the jamboree has been an avenue for the Old Vandals to champion positive causes through socio-political advocacies, awareness creation, environmental stewardship, etc. This year’s edition, for instance, will be preceded by a cleanup exercise on 1st July with Ghana’s emerging sanitation champions – the Buzstopboys – at the Legon Hospital and the Okponglo underpass.
These initiatives instill a sense of altruism and responsibility among vandals.
The Association also takes advantage of the event to raise funds for meaningful projects within and outside the Commonwealth Hall. Through such fundraising, the OVA has been able to complete vital projects such as washroom renovations and refurbishment of some key facilities in the hall, as well as embarking on donations to support the poor and needy.
Over the past years, the jamboree has been attended by some prominent Old Vandals including the current President of the Republic, H.E. John Dramani Mahama who is set to be present again this year, Hon. Joseph Osei Owusu, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, the late Daasebre Professor Emeritus Oti Boateng, and Osagyefo Agyemang Badu II.
The Return of Vandalism and the Question of Discipline
This year’s jamboree will probably be the biggest ever. The upcoming event signifies the resilience of the Vandal fraternity amidst deliberate attempts to cancel our culture. The theme for this year is an indication of our unwavering commitment to fight tooth and nail for the restoration of our cherished hall.
As we anticipate this great day, I hope we reflect on the events that have brought us to where we are now. Those who seek to bring our fraternity down have sold despicable stories about us and there is an urgent call for us to correct this.
I share the opinions of the Greater Accra Regional OVA Veep, Mr Akwetea, that misconception is fast becoming our greatest enemy. Most of the narratives about Vandalism are either fabricated or blown out of proportion.
For the records, Vandals are the most disciplined set of students on the UG campus. We are the only hall with unique traditions that enforce discipline among members. However, the young ones must understand that the rules are different for Vandals. When students from other halls misconduct themselves, they are taken on individually. On the contrary, when a vandal moves in the wrong direction, the whole hall is brandished as indiscipline. This is probably a consequence of our shared spirit of ‘UBUNTU’. But we cannot allow the few bad nuts to spoil the ‘abenkwan’ Ghanaians have been enjoying for decades.
It is, therefore, imperative for every vandal to carry himself in a way that positively projects the hall and safeguard the gains we have made over the years.
It is my fervent hope that this year’s jamboree achieves the goal of socializing young vandals to the core values of vandalism, and address vile misconceptions about the hall and its members.
It is also my prayer that next year’s event will move back to the original venue – the Bacchus Garden – where ‘Atehene’ with his ‘Mentula Magna’ will welcome all sons of the great fraternity.
Nathan Nana Afari,
The writer is a former JCR Secretary of Commonwealth hall
