Let’s embrace opposition for better policy options — Prof. Benneh

Veteran politician Prof. George Benneh has asked all Ghanaians to appreciate opposition for better policy options in the country.

The octogenarian also proposed prayer as the most effective tool in overcoming challenges and forgiveness as a divine attribute to possess.

He gave the advice in an interview with the Daily Graphic a day before the launch of his first book, after recovering from ill health.

Prof. Benneh shared these lessons that have been foundational in his life and that have also been captured in the book My Time, My Nation, which will be launched at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) tomorrow.

Opposition

“You see, it is through opposition that you appreciate the other side; because you may think you have every solution, but when you are opposed, you may also discover that there are some aspects that you might have overlooked and, therefore, reformulate whatever policy you are putting forward,” Prof. Benneh stated.

According to him, he faced a lot of opposition as vice chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, but in all that, he was strengthened because he prayed to pull through successfully.

He said a healthy appreciation of opposition helped vary one’s intentions for very good decisions. 

Book

The book was started by the veteran politician, geographer and multiple international and national award winner after he suffered a stroke.

It was recommended to him as a therapy to alleviate his frustration over his physical challenges after the illness and prevent self-pity.

Prof. Benneh agreed that writing the book had helped him a lot and recommended the same exercise to any person suffering from a stroke or any illness.

He also tasked all politicians and public servants to write their autobiographies for posterity in order for the country not to lose its institutional memory.

Books in the pipeline

Prof. Benneh noted that he had already started and was almost at the completion stages of the revision of the book, “New Geography of Ghana”, that he co-authored with Kwamina Busumafi Dickson in 1970.

The revision, according to him, would take into account all the new developments such as climate change, degradation of the environment and ‘galamsey’, since they wrote the book in 1970.

“Then I am going to write another one, “Experiencing Stroke at an Advanced age, my personal experiences”, he added.

He conceded that it was not easy; however, recollecting and writing an autobiography was good therapy.

“It is by His grace that I have written the book and through His grace, the book will be launched,” he observed. 

Elated

The wife of Prof. Benneh, Mrs Adelaide Benneh, said she felt elated by the book that was soon to be launched.

She said the book was a sort of climax for the busy life that her husband had lived in the past, and expressed her excitement about it. eteran politician Prof. George Benneh has asked all Ghanaians to appreciate opposition for better policy options in the country.

The octogenarian also proposed prayer as the most effective tool in overcoming challenges and forgiveness as a divine attribute to possess.

He gave the advice in an interview with the Daily Graphic a day before the launch of his first book, after recovering from ill health.

Prof. Benneh shared these lessons that have been foundational in his life and that have also been captured in the book My Time, My Nation, which will be launched at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) tomorrow. 

Opposition

“You see, it is through opposition that you appreciate the other side; because you may think you have every solution, but when you are opposed, you may also discover that there are some aspects that you might have overlooked and, therefore, reformulate whatever policy you are putting forward,” Prof. Benneh stated.

According to him, he faced a lot of opposition as vice chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, but in all that, he was strengthened because he prayed to pull through successfully.

He said a healthy appreciation of opposition helped vary one’s intentions for very good decisions. 

Book

The book was started by the veteran politician, geographer and multiple international and national award winner after he suffered a stroke.

It was recommended to him as a therapy to alleviate his frustration over his physical challenges after the illness and prevent self-pity.

Prof. Benneh agreed that writing the book had helped him a lot and recommended the same exercise to any person suffering from a stroke or any illness.

He also tasked all politicians and public servants to write their autobiographies for posterity in order for the country not to lose its institutional memory. 

Books in the pipeline

Prof. Benneh noted that he had already started and was almost at the completion stages of the revision of the book, “New Geography of Ghana”, that he co-authored with Kwamina Busumafi Dickson in 1970.

The revision, according to him, would take into account all the new developments such as climate change, degradation of the environment and ‘galamsey’, since they wrote the book in 1970.

“Then I am going to write another one, “Experiencing Stroke at an Advanced age, my personal experiences”, he added.

He conceded that it was not easy; however, recollecting and writing an autobiography was good therapy.

“It is by His grace that I have written the book and through His grace, the book will be launched,” he observed. 

Elated

The wife of Prof. Benneh, Mrs Adelaide Benneh, said she felt elated by the book that was soon to be launched.

She said the book was a sort of climax for the busy life that her husband had lived in the past, and expressed her excitement about it.