Cambridge lecturer wants ‘Ghana beyond aid’ described ‘Ghana beyond corruption’
A lecturer at Cambridge University, Dr Justice Tankebe, wants clarity put to the theme of the 61st independence celebration, suggesting that it should find expression in Ghana beyond corruption.
The criminologist asserted that while Ghana has potential resources, corruption has trapped the country in the aid syndrome.
Dr Tankebe was speaking at an event at Cambridge University to mark this year’s March 6 independence celebration.
Organised by the Cambridge University Ghanaian Society, the event brought together Ghanaian academics and researchers at Cambridge University – and others from the United Kingdom – to dissect the theme of the 61st independence anniversary: ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’.
The event, which was hugely attended by Ghanaian and non-Ghanaian students and professionals, was sub-themed ‘Ghana and her development partners in a neoliberal regime: Engaging and disengaging’.
Dr Tankebe maintained that while the national theme is timely, there should be clarity in terms of who does what, how progress is measured and timelines in achieving specific goals.
He said all acts and practices that overtly or covertly hold back this mindset must be labelled corruption.
Other speakers applauded government for selecting such a theme.
Dr Mark Atta, a Medical Advisor at NHS England, argued that aid has never been beneficial to Africa.
In his remarks, Dr Atta said aid has engendered corruption and ineptitude among African leaders.
He said the only case in which Africa will need aid is when local capacity collapses. But for that, the pumping in of aid has, in most cases, killed the initiative of Africans to devise sustainable means of financing development activities.
A PhD student at Anglia Ruskin University, James Tuffuor, argued that the abundance of natural resources should make it needless for Africans to depend on aid.
He said the availability of natural resources like cocoa and gold should make Ghana, for instance, significantly self-sufficient.
Mr Tuffuor, whose PhD research focuses on institutional reforms in the mining industry in Ghana, repeated the refrain that Ghana needs to add value to her natural resources in order to sustain her independence from aid.
Dr Alex Komashie, a researcher in Health System at Cambridge University’s Engineering Department, called for partnership between Ghana and the rest of the world to develop a sophisticated processing system.
The event last Saturday also saw the introduction of the executives of the Cambridge University Ghanaian Society: Sabastine Eugene Arthur (President), Japheth S. T. Roberts (Vice President), Gilbert Adum (Secretary), Zayan Imoro (Organiser), Deborah Acquah (Treasurer) and Charles Prempeh (PRO).
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