Ashesi University's Centre for African Popular Culture hosted a public lecture, prompted by Madam Akua Donkor's candidacy as the founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP). The lecture, which had Emeritus Professor Kwasi Yankah as the speaker explored the role of language in Ghanaian politics, highlighting how English, a minority language, can limit participation in national discussions for those proficient only in indigenous languages.
By examining the intersection of language and decision-making, Professor Yankah proposed a linguistically diverse framework that promoted inclusive participation and facilitated the free exchange of ideas without fear of censorship, fostering a deeper understanding of African popular culture and its significance in modern Ghanaian society. This discussion was particularly relevant in Ghana, where language plays a crucial role in shaping civic engagement and national discourse.
Professor Kwesi Yankah emphasized that knowledge gained from formal education was distinct from wisdom. He noted that knowledge provided technical skills and structured learning, but wisdom came from life experience, intuition, and deep understanding. He also pointed out that being literate did not automatically make a person wise, and being non-literate did not mean one lacked intelligence.
The Candidacy of Akua Donkor:
Akua Donkor was a Ghanaian politician and farmer who ran for president multiple times. She was a cocoa farmer with no formal education. Her political journey began as an assembly woman for the Heman electoral area in the Afigya Kwabre District.
Her Attempts at Politics
- 2012 Election: Madam Donkor applied to contest as an independent candidate but was disqualified for not meeting the requirements.
- 2016 Election: Her party's headquarters was gutted by fire, but she remained determined to run. However, she was disqualified again due to errors on her nomination form.
- 2020 Election: Madam Donkor was among three female presidential candidates cleared to contest, finishing fifth out of 12 candidates.
- 2024 Election: She successfully filed her nomination, placing third on the ballot paper, but sadly passed away just before the election.