...neglect of culture and traditions
Okada, (Nigeria), Nov. 26, GNA - The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, has blamed Africa's slow pace of development and poor economic conditions on the neglect and abandonment of the continent's culture and traditional heritage of the people in its governance and development process.
He pointed out that there was a cultural dimension that was acting as psychological block on Africa's development and attributed the present condition of the continent on lack of confidence in the culture and traditions bequeathed to the people by the forefathers of the continent.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu has therefore, suggested the infusion of traditional institutional structures which had been developed over the centuries into the new democratic structures on the continent to make them more meaningful to the people.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu was speaking at the 5th convocation of the Igbinedion University, Okada in the Edo State of Nigeria on Saturday, where he was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in law by the University.
Igbinedion University, which is the first private university to be established in Nigeria, has eight colleges and considered as the first private university in Africa to graduate medical doctors. It was established by Sir. Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of the Benin Kingdom in Nigeria.
The University also conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters degree on Honourable P.J Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica and a Doctor of Law degree on Alayeluwa Sijuwale Olubuse 11, Ooni of Ife kingdom in Nigeria.
The conferment of the degree on the Asantehene was in recognition of his exemplary leadership and promotion of education. A citation accompanying the degree said Otumfuo had won great admiration for his unique blend of traditional leadership with modernity and the establishment of an educational fund to support needy children in Ghana. The Asantehene said in the pursuit of western democracy, Africa should not throw away its culture and traditions and surrender to everything foreign.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu, compared Africa's situation to that of Asia and said the culture and way of life had been the foundation upon which the so-called Asian Tigers, had built their work ethic and creative energy developed, adding that, that had sustained their self-confidence that whatever, anyone had done, they could also do and probably better. "I suggest to you therefore understanding our past and our culture which identifies us as a people is important for our self-confidence and that self-confidence is an indispensable pre-requisite for our survival in the challenging new era", he stated.
The Asantehene said, over the centuries majority of people in Africa have had their direct contact in terms of governance with their traditional rulers and institutions.
This, according to him, had helped them in resolving conflicts, maintain law and order and mobilise them to care for their environment. He said the condition of trust and loyalty built over the centuries could not be replaced, adding that, they provided a potent pathway for the accelerated development than most of the institutions imported from foreign countries.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu, said Ghana had found a useful marriage between tradition and modernity which was serving the people well, adding that, Ghanaian traditional rulers were playing crucial roles as partners in the democratic process.
He said traditional institutions remained primed to explain to and mobilise the people behind the goals and objectives of their leaders without the rancour associated with other institutions. He said the quest for Africa's development would gain greater impetus from the commitment of the peoples of Africa beyond the political leadership and the elite.
The Asantehene said there was the need to inspire the people in a new belief in themselves and they must truthfully share in the hope of a new destiny on the horizon in Africa adding that, that inspiration could come from a deeper understanding of the story and appreciation of the various cultures and way of life of the people.
He said the honorary doctorate degree conferred on him would not only serve as bond of friendship between him as the Chancellor of the KNUST, but also between the peoples of Asante and Benin kingdom and Ghana and Nigeria.
He commended the founder of the university for the initiative and his quest to provide quality education to the people to empower them to take up the challenging task of liberating Africa from poverty, disease and other challenges militating against its development. Honourable P.J Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, on his part, said it was time for Africa not only to emancipate themselves from mental slavery but also to seek knowledge that would free them from the shackles of poverty and disease.
He commended the founder of the University for his foresight and tenacity of purpose in establishing the University and urged the students to take advantage and learn hard to acquire knowledge. The Reverend Professor Eghosa E. Osaghae, Vice Chancellor of the University, said the university had established a Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, which offered students a window to life as successful creators of wealth.
