Universities must promote tolerance, human rights — Senior Fellow
A Senior Fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana, Emerita Professor Takyiwaa Manuh, has called on universities across Ghana and the globe to actively promote tolerance, inclusion and human rights in their programmes and institutional policies.
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Speaking at a recent forum on the role of higher education in fostering human rights last Wednesday, she emphasised the critical need for universities to be at the forefront of social change.
"Universities are not just places where knowledge is transferred; they are critical spaces where ideas about justice, equality and human dignity should be nurtured," Professor Manuh said.
Present at the forum were representatives from the various tertiary institutions, including University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), among others.
Professor Manuh stressed that universities must go beyond traditional academics by embedding the values of tolerance, inclusion and diversity into their curricula.
"Tolerance does not mean agreement or approval. It is about accepting diversity and respecting differences, even when we do not necessarily agree.
"In an increasingly interconnected world, universities must prepare students to engage with diverse perspectives and contribute to a more inclusive society," she said.
Discrimination, human rights violations Professor Manuh urged universities to develop comprehensive policies that protect marginalised groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals, from discrimination.
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Research
“Universities also play a key role in producing independent human rights research,” Professor Manuh added.
She, therefore, called on academic institutions to contribute to the national and global dialogue on human rights through research, teaching and advocacy.
Challenges
While universities have the potential to foster human rights, Professor Manuh acknowledged that they can also be sites of exclusion and discrimination.
“It’s important to recognise that universities are not immune to the very issues they seek to address. Resistance to gender equality, disability rights, and the inclusion of sexual minorities remains prevalent in many institutions,” she observed.
She urged universities to confront these challenges head-on.
Consequently, Professor Manuh called on university leaders, policymakers, and students to work together in fostering a culture of inclusion, tolerance, and respect.
"The university is a microcosm of society, and as such, it has the power to either reinforce or challenge the status quo," she said. “
Protection
A Director of the Africa Coalition for Academic Freedom and a Professor at the University of Ghana, Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, also said while academic freedom traditionally focused on faculty rights, students also needed protection and space to express ideas freely.
"Academic freedom is incomplete if we exclude students, who are the primary beneficiaries of the university system," he said.
Policy
Professor Appiagyei-Atua called for policy reforms to protect students from discrimination and to ensure they can participate fully in academic life.