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Legon Philosophy Department honours Kwame Gyekye
Accra, June 14, GNA- Professor Kwame Gyekye, an eminent
African philosopher and scholar, was at the week-end
honoured by the Philosophy Department of the University
of Ghana for his meritorious service to the University
for the past 40 years.He was
presented with a beautifully loom woven Bonwinre Kente
cloth, a plaque and citation.
Prof. Helen Lauer, Head of the
Department said in the citation, at a dinner in Accra:"
This evening, it is indeed an honour and privilege to
read this citation for Prof Kwame Gyekye, in honour of
the 40th anniversary of his doctoral graduation from
Harvard University and 40 years of service to the
Department of Philosophy and the University of Ghana."
Fellow dons and former students of
Prof. Gyekye,
now professors themselves reminisced with applause the
olden days when Prof. Gyekye would come to the lecture
hall, and would say "It is time to think" before
starting his lectures.
The citation described Prof. Gyekye,
69, as not only a Scholar and Philosopher, but as "
Teacher, Friend, Husband, Father and Grandfather,"
adding, "we salute you and say congratulations, ayekoo!
"You are indeed one of the great philosophers of our
time, and we are very proud to honour you tonight. Thank
you for your leadership and selfless dedication to
teaching and quality scholarship; your scholarly
contributions to the study of philosophy have blazed a
path for future generations of students and scholars to
follow and build upon," the citation added, as senior
members of the department and affiliate departments, and
sister universities- Cape Coast, Lagos, as well as wife
and children and extended family members applauded the
man who sat quiet but however known to be a foremost
deep thinker on the African continent.
In the span of the four decades
service to the University, the wealth of knowledge and
the exemplary teaching were said to have endeared him to
hundreds of students over the years.
In addition to being a brilliant philosopher, Prof
Gyekye served as Vice Master of the Akuafo Hall, Head of
the Philosophy Department, Dean of the Faculty of Arts,
Dean of School of Research and Graduate Studies, as well
as Chairman of a number of Boards, including that of the
Graphic Communications Group Limited.
He also served as Vice President
(Arts) of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, and
has edited the 16 lectures that were delivered and are
being published under the title; 'Ghana @ 50: Annivesary
Lectures.'
Former Vice Chancellor of the
University of Ghana Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah described
Prof Gyekye as pleasurable to work with.
Prof Gyekye thanked the Department for
the honour done him, and said it came as a surprise to
him.
Later in an interview, Prof Joseph
Atsu Ayee, Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies of the
University of Ghana, and a former student of Prof Gyekye,
praised Prof Gyekye for his mentoring role, not only for
students but also for colleague lecturers.
Prof Ayee made a strong case for the
study of philosophy to continue.
He however said there was the need for
a restructuring of the course to satisfy modern trends
and demands to make it more applicable.
Prof Ayee suggested a training
programme for politicians in Ghana to undergo some
training in ethics, and said plans were underway to
introduce the study of philosophy across all programmes
at the University.
GNA
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