University of Ghana honours two senior lecturers

Accra, July 24, GNA- The Department of Political Science of the University of Ghana, Legon on Friday honoured two senior lecturers for their contribution towards enriching the human resource capital in the country and the development of the university.

They were Mr Francis Kofi Drah, who had taught for 45 years and Professor Kwame Akon Ninsin who has 33 years experience in the teaching field.

Speaking at the ceremony at Legon, Prof. Kwame Boafo Arthur, Head of the Department said the university was indebted to the two lecturers who had spent their adulthood mentoring, guiding and lecturing students. "We prefer to honour you now before we do so posthumously. You are not just our mentors, you are heroes and we salute you," he said. Prof. Mike Oquaye, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, described Mr Kofi Drah as a humble and knowledgeable lecturer who inculcated in his students, the ability to think analytically to address challenges they were beleaguered with.

"How to present and apply facts analytically was the virtue of Mr Kofi Drah," he said, stressing that his academic contributions needed to be celebrated.

Referring to his past as a political student of the university, Prof Oquaye spoke with nostalgia that Mr Drah had effectively mentored, guided and lectured him such that he had become self-reliant and useful to society.

"Mr Drah, if I became a professor today, it was because you constantly supervised my thesis and read over every article I presented and published throughout the whole world," he said.

Prof Oquaye said Mr Drah supervised his PHD work and encouraged him when he was down emotionally.

He said his advice was a fuel that kept him to move on successfully to pursue his course.

He described Prof Kwame Ninsin as a man committed towards a worthy course but who did not seek financial rewards for his services. "He remained in the country and worked to shape and restructure the Political Science Department even at a time when many had left the country in search for greener pastures," Prof Oquaye said. He lauded both lecturers for their contribution towards national development adding: "These men are real scholars, committed scholars. They have given us so much, I salute them," he said.

The Conference room of the Political Science Department was named after Mr Francis Kofi Drah whiles the department's internet-wired library facility was named after Prof. Kwame Ninsin to immortalise their names.

The two lecturers were presented with citations, Kente cloth and traditional sandals.

Prof Atsu Ayee, Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies, of the university read Mr Drah's citation, which lauded his contribution towards the growth and development of the Political Science Department. The citation said, "You have taught almost all the current crop of lecturers in the department and mentored them to become what they are today. Your unruffled disposition even under stressful periods and your selfless character are worthy of emulation."

Mr Kwesi Jonah, a senior lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University, in a citation in honour of Prof Ninsin, acknowledged his continued contribution as a lecturer and researcher of the university.

The citation acclaimed his contribution to the curriculum development of the department when he supervised a restructuring of the Bachelor of Arts and M. Philosophy syllabi of the department in 2003 and 2008.

"You have spent the better part of your working life supporting, encouraging and elevating the Political Science Department to its current status as one of the most popular, productive and academically active departments of the University of Ghana," the citation said. Mr Drah thanked the Department for appreciating the contributions both lecturers had made and recommended that the honour bestowed on them be institutionalized in order to remember and celebrate similar contributions of others. 24 July 09