President Akufo-Addo celebrates Prof. Nketia
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has paid tribute to Emeritus Professor Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia, a legend, at a festival held in Accra to celebrate Prof. Nketia’s academic life and achievements.
“One runs out of adjectives trying to describe this noble Ghanaian. A few come readily to mind, though – composer, ethnomusicologist, writer, scholar, instrumentalist and, above all, Ghanaian patriot,” the President said.
He said Emeritus Prof. Nketia’s work in the field of music had been globally acknowledged.
“Indeed, such has been his impact that, today, his concept and interpretation of time and rhythmic patterns in Ghanaian and other African folk music have become the standard for music scholars around the world, complementing that of another Ghanaian musical legend, Ephraim Amu, who, coincidentally, was his mentor. Such is the quality of the man we are celebrating today,” he added.
Celebration
The President noted that Prof. Nketia’s achievements were worth celebrating “because they give us formidable cultural capital to fortify our unique African identity, forge a great Ghanaian nation and pursue our historic pan-African vocation. His life’s work is a great message for the youth: that the sky is the limit for anyone who wants to work hard”.
“This celebration also affords us the opportunity to apply Emeritus Prof. Nketia’s ideas to nation building,” he added.
Prof. Nketia’s life’s experiences pointed to the crucial significance of education, President Akufo-Addo added.
“Education, as we all know, is the equaliser of opportunity. At this juncture in our nation’s history, broad access to education is vital if we are to transform our economy from one dependent on the production and export of raw materials to a value-added, industrialised one.
“That is the rationale for the free senior high school (SHS) policy. It is meant to ensure that the doors of education, at least up to the end of SHS, are open to all, irrespective of the circumstances of birth. An educated workforce is our surest bet of ensuring the progress and prosperity of our nation,” he said.
Inclusive education
Touching on inclusive education which had been stressed by Prof. Nketia through the years, the President said: “This is the reasoning behind the learning of Ghanaian and African History, our cultures, oral traditions, festivals, languages, folklore, dance and music, among others.”
Education that sought to apply local knowledge to foreign knowledge, as advocated by Emeritus Prof. Nketia, according to him, was what Ghana needed at this point of globalisation where holistic cultures and identities played key roles in how to navigate the challenges posed by globalisation.
“Education which combines the performing arts, such as music, and the humanities is what will define our identity and cohesiveness as Ghanaians,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo was confident that if the nation applied the works of Emeritus Prof. Nketia “we shall be further emboldened to construct a modern, democratic nation based on equity, respect and inclusion. We will then build a new Ghanaian civilisation, a Ghana beyond aid, a new flowering of Ghanaian art and culture”.