Scrap Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture - Prof. Anyidoho

Story:By Salifu Abdul-Rahaman

PROFESSOR Kofi Anyidoho, a poet and scholar at the English Department of the University of Ghana, has called for scrapping of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture in future governance reform.

Instead, he has suggested the elevation of the Chairman of the National Commission on Culture to Cabinet Ministerial level to assume the role of cultural promotion in the country.

Prof. Anyidoho made the suggestion when he presented a paper yesterday, at a symposium at the New Year School and Conference on the topic: “Youth, Culture and Development”.

Prof. Anyidoho underscored the significance of culture in national development and expressed regret that the country had not been able to transform the national culture policy into pragmatic programmes.

He explained that a lot of time and money had been spent on the development of the cultural policy for the country, but the lackadaisical attitude of government had hundred its implementation.

Prof. Anyidoho said, “For the people of a nation to develop, they must recognize their culture,” and added that culture must have a deeper influence of the people and their art of governance.”

The renowned poet and scholar also dwelt on the importance of language and said colonialism had led to the ‘loss of our great self’, adding that “the loss of our original language has led o confusion in our consciousness.”

He said the country was not doing much to promote the local languages. Instead, it was interested in promoting Chinese language.

“How can the agriculture extension officer communicate with the farmer to induce and enhance good agricultural practices?” he wondered.

Prof. Anyidoho said whereas promotion of agriculture was important, culture promotion was equally important, adding “while agric nourishes the body, culture nourishes the soul.”

Efo Kojo Mawugbe, Executive Director of the National Theatre, in his contribution expressed regret that the influence of western culture had reduced the Ghanaian into consumers of foreign products, at the expense of domestic-production and consumption of goods and services.

He said there was the need to change the people’s inferiority complex over their cultures in relations to other cultures, explaining that “culture is like electricity that illuminates light over us.”

*Source:

            The Ghanaian Times                  Page 3                  Wednesday, January 12, 2011