Prof. Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, FGA
The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) successfully hosted the 58th edition of the J.B. Danquah Memorial Lecture, an esteemed annual event honoring the legacy of Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah, a founding member of the Academy. This year’s keynote speaker, Prof. Samuel Gyasi Obeng (FGA), a distinguished linguist from Indiana University-Bloomington, USA, delivered a compelling series of lectures under the theme “Language and Liberty.”
The three-day lecture series took place from February 24 to 26 at the Kwame Nkrumah Auditorium of GAAS, drawing a distinguished audience of scholars, academicians, and students. Among the notable attendees were the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo (FGA), along with other eminent professors from the university.
Founded in 1959, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) is the nation’s premier learned society, dedicated to advancing knowledge in the arts and sciences. The Academy fosters intellectual discourse, promotes research, and provides a platform for scholarly engagement on national and global issues. Through its annual programs, including the J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures, GAAS continues to shape academic and policy discussions in Ghana.
Theme and Lecture Highlights
Prof. Obeng’s presentations explored the intricate relationship between language and freedom, focusing on:
Day 1: Language and Liberty
Day 2: Language and Liberty in Selected Ghanaian Political Practices
Day 3: Language and Liberty in J.B. Danquah’s Politico-Judicial Life
In the 3-day lecture series, Prof. Samuel Gyasi Obeng (FGA), emphasized the pivotal role of language in shaping law, religion, medicine, and education, asserting that “the death of a language is the death of a culture.” He urged collective efforts to safeguard legal liberty and encouraged Ghanaians to actively engage in governance and legal affairs, cautioning that political disengagement weakens the fight for justice.
Additionally, he stressed that true political liberty requires collaboration between ruling and opposition parties to drive national development.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Alfred Oteng-Yeboah (FGA), chairperson for the event addressed students from Accra Girls Senior High School and Labone Senior High School, urging them to take an active role in political discourse. He reminded them that they are the future of Ghana and should contribute meaningfully to the country’s democratic development.
The J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures continue to serve as a vital platform for intellectual discussions on national and global issues. They uphold Dr. Danquah’s legacy by fostering critical thought and civic engagement, reinforcing his contributions to Ghana’s political and academic landscape.
