Ambassador Daniel Kufour Osei, inaugural President of the Council on Foreign Relations-Ghana, has expressed belief that “liberal democracy, though imperfect, is strong and harbours powers of self-correction; and also provides mechanisms for challenging public grievances, and thus, we should collectively continue to invest in it”.
Mr. D. K. Osei made these remarks when he delivered the 2022 Alumni Lecture on the topic, “Liberal Democracy: The New Utopias and the Age of Disorder” at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana.
Ambassador Osei noted that with Ghana’s experience in preventive diplomacy, it should play a major role in driving the sub-region’s diplomatic engagement. He also commended the country’s diplomatic efforts in maintaining peace and democracy in Africa, drawing attention to the leadership of Ghana during ECOWAS mediation initiatives in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.
Ambassador Daniel Kufour Osei
Tracing the historical background of liberal democracy, Ambassador Osei added that there is no liberal democracy that is not in trouble, largely due to the disconnect between citizens’ expectations and a changing definition of what constitutes decision-making power. In the lecturer’s view, the advent of technology has made it easier for citizens to demand answers from their elected officials, thus, making it possible for them to constantly request change.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, stated that, “over the past decades, proud alumni of this prestigious University who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields of endeavour have mounted this platform and shared riveting and instructive presentations”. She took the audience down memory lane by recalling some of the topics presented during alumni lectures, which still have relevance to contemporary national discourse.
A cross-section of participants at the Lecture
The Chairman of the University of Ghana Alumni Association (UGAA), Ms. Doris Kisiwa Ansah, highlighted the numerous projects by the Association in support of the University’s infrastructure development, including Jubliee Hall, renovation of reading rooms of four Halls of Residence and the construction of a mother’s wing to accommodate mothers whose children are on admission at the University Hospital. Ms. Ansah revealed the Association’s decision to support the Vice-Chancellor’s Programme for Enhancing the Student Experience by building two Hot Spot Comfort Zones to enable students make the best use of their free periods.
The Lecture was attended by University officials, members of Diplomatic Corps, Alumni, Students and Staff of the University. In attendance were Hon. (Mrs.) Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Republic of Ghana; Dr. Ibn Chambas, Former President of Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) and Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Ambassador Kwesi Quartey, a Ghanaian diplomat and former Vice-Chairperson of African Union Commission. There were also students from the Achimota school and the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) in attendance.
Presentations were made to Ambassador Daniel Kuffour Osei by members of his family, colleagues and friends.
