New African studies building outdoored
Rich African culture was splendidly displayed at the campus of the Ghana’s premier university, University of Ghana (UG) in Accra. The occasion, which exhibited the usual pomp and pageantry that characterise opulent Ghanaian festivals was the outdooring of the multi-billion modern complex building to house one of the oldest place of learning in the country, Institute of African Studies at the UG.
The Danish government with an amount of $350,000 mainly supported the building, which consists of a conference room, a theatre, office complex, a museum, and a computer centre, among others.
Among the performers who graced the occasion was the world renowned Ghana Dance Ensemble who performed to the admiration of invited guests, members of the university community and the press as well.
The atmosphere at the campus, especially around the main gate where the new building was located was reminiscent of the climax of one of the plush Ghanaian festivals, especially with the vantage positioning of various umbrellas of different kinds.
The dancers paraded through some of the major routes on campus exhibiting the richness, complexity and dynamism of African culture. Men clad in Egyptian soldiers’ uniform holding staffs, which have lighted candles at their tops, guarded the entrance to the new edifice.
The Institute was established in 1961 in the same year that the University College of the Gold Coast attained its full university status. Important personalities instrumental in its establishment were the first President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Nana Kwabena Nketsia IV, then Vice Chancellor of the University.
It was to play a vanguard role in the intellectual efforts to uncover through multidisciplinary resource, all aspects of the rich culture and history of the Africa peoples. The multidisciplinary nature of the Institute gives it the capacity, expertise and experience to carry out research and teach in a wide range of fields including history, politics, philosophy, religion, societies and cultures, language, drama and literature, visual arts, gender, culture, development, music and dance.
The Director of the Institute, Dr Irene Odotei, through whose untiring efforts the building was put up had the admiration of all the main speakers for her steadfastness and resilience. She was commended for actualising the dreams of all her predecessors.
Professor George Hagan, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture, announced that the Commission has signed a $266,000 protocol with UNESCO for research into ‘intangible heritage’ of Ghana and the IAS will be the academic agency for the project.
Emeritus Professor J.H.K. Nketia, said the era of Information Technology demands that the institute computerise its information base and activities to enhance teaching and learning as well as to make it serve as a reference point.
The Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Oyeeman Wereko II, who unveiled the commemorative plaque, charged the staff of the institute to put in place strategic maintenance protocol to properly maintain and enhance the building and its facilities to stand the test of time.
The Danish Ambassador commended the Institute for providing cultural orientation to the staff of the Danish Embassy as well as numerous visitors, students and researchers from Denmark adding that “the institute serves as an important bridge between Africans and nationals from the rest of the world”.