Prof. (Emeritus) Oti Boateng celebrates Nana Ofori-Attah’s firm commitment to education

Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area and Chancellor of the, All Nations University, Daasebre Prof. (Emeritus) Oti Boateng, has extolled Nana Ofori-Attah I for his unwavering faith in education as a tool for progress.

Daasebre Prof. (Emeritus) Oti Boateng who described Sir Ofori-Attah as patron spirit for the education of his people said his inspiration for the formation of the Abuakwa Scholars’ Union with the principal aim of educating the people was ample demonstration of his belief in education.

He was speaking on the ongoing Nana Sir Ofori-Attah I National Energy Quiz Competition designed to empower Senior High and Technical Schools with knowledge in the entire energy value chain including petroleum upstream and downstream, power generation, transmission and distribution with the focus on Power, Petroleum and Culture.

The quiz equally aims at educating the youth in both Senior High Schools (SHS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) on the energy sector.

“In Nana Ofori Atta, I discovered a companion of common shared values of education. He inspired the quest for Afrocentric education, and believed that any education which alienates people from their identity, history and culture undoubtedly becomes an ideological tool rather than a true and honest education,” he extolled.

Professor Oti Boateng recalled other exploits of the first Okyenhene such as laying the foundation stone to establish the Abuakwa State College at an estimated cost of £10,000 provided wholly from Okyeman revenues, thus becoming the father and founder of the College.

The Chancellor of the All Nations University observed that post-independence experience in education remained a major challenge in the quest to preserve the African identity and culture in an educational system that is largely Eurocentric in content and substance, adding that it was important to rethink the content and substance of Ghana’s education with this historical inspiration to ensure that Ghanaians are more educated to be more Ghanaians than foreigners and to respect our values and institutions of culture - that is, unquestionably, the threshold of civilization advocated by Nana Sir Ofori Atta.

He said although Nana Sir Ofori Atta contributed so much to education in the twentieth century, the question is not so much what he has contributed, but more importantly what the NEQ will derive from being associated with the name.

To Daasebre Prof. (Emeritus) Oti Boateng, Nana Ofori Atta represents one of the glittering diamonds of the historicity of Chieftaincy leadership in Ghana having earned great respect for the institution of Chieftaincy in Ghana as a whole, adding that such laurels offer a portrait of his authority, captivating personality, and great charisma in the cultural leadership landscape of Ghana.

“The name Nana Sir Ofori Atta, wherever it is mentioned or found in Ghana and elsewhere, is a reference point to the personality whose exploits and traditional authority in Ghana we are celebrating today to redefine the Senior High School Quiz Competition along the enviable national traits of academic excellence and leadership,” he said.

He challenged organizers of the competition to not only become a symbol of national excellence in academic and knowledge contributions by associating with the name Nana Ofori Atta I, but also to inculcate his visionary leadership qualities which embody strong values, clear insight, motivating relationships and innovative action to perpetually inspire generations of faculty and students.

The Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area was convinced that institutionalizing the name, Nana Sir Ofori-Attah I will enhance its image as an iconic symbol of inspiration that many will clamour to identify with.
“A name when institutionalized by the unparalleled exploits of pace-setting leaders becomes iconic symbols of inspiration and trademarks of history that institutions and people are always endeavoring to identify with.

“Such leaders do not only inspire us to achieve greater heights in life, but also set the standards of societal conscience and give us hope that we can rise above our comfort zones. They are the bridges between our past and future and the signpost of our common humanity. Such is the exploits of Nana Sir Ofori Atta in the historical, cultural and political evolution of Ghana as a nation state,” said Nana Oti Boateng.

Nana Sir Ofori Atta reigned as Okyenhene for 31 years from 1912 to 1943 and remains a giant brand and standard bearer of Chieftaincy leadership, a wellspring of knowledge and an icon in the political history and culture of Ghana.

While he described Nana Ofori Atta as an ardent advocate of the culture of his ancestors, without ignoring aspects of other people’s culture with the potential to enhance the progress of his own, Professor Oti Boating said the revered chief was prepared to support adaptations that were consistent with his conception of modernization of Akyem Abuakwa and the Gold Coast in general.

“Nana Ofori Atta identified himself not only with the affairs of his own state but also with the various activities across the Gold Coast. He was firmly opposed to foreign cultural norms that threatened to de-Africanise his people and make them intellectual “carbon-copies” and second-rated citizens of other races, a subservient humanity lacking confidence, originality and critical thinking to compete globally,” he praised.

Quoting Nana Ofori Atta memorandum on education to the Presbyterian Synod meeting at Kyebi on July 11, Nana Ofori Atta emphatically stated: “I do and shall always emphasise that education should be regarded as one of the foremost duties of the chiefs towards the community; and any chief who fails or neglects his duty can hardly be deemed worthy of his trust”.