2015 Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg Memorial Lectures Held

Professor Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, 2015 Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg Memorial Lecturer

The 2015 Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg Memorial Lectures have been held at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana.

The three-day Lecture series were delivered by Professor Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, an Indian Literary Theorist, Philosopher and University Professor at Columbia University and Recipient of the 2012 Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy, on the theme, “Humanities: Asia, the West, Africa”.

Prof. Spivak being assisted by Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aryeetey to cut a tape to launch the 2013 Aggrey-Fraser Guggisberg Memorial Lecture Publication

The first day of the lecture was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Ernest Aryeetey while the Chairman of the University Council, Hon. Justice Samuel Kofi Date-Bah, chaired day two of the lecture. The published lecture of the 2013 Aggrey-Fraser Guggisberg Memorial Lecturer, Prof. Thandika Mkandawire, titled ‘Beyond Recovery’ was launched on the first day of the lecture series.

The third day of the Lecture series was be chaired by Prof. Franklyn Achampong Manu, Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). As part of the programme for the third day, the University held a Special Congregation to confer an honorary Doctorate Degree on the Speaker, Professor Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak.

Through the three-day Lecture series, Professor Spivak sought to highlight the transformative power of the Humanities, using her years of teaching experience in countries such as her home country India, the United States as well as collaborations in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.

From right: Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. S.K. Offei, Chairman of Council Hon. Justice S.K. Date-Bah, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey and Prof. Kofi Anyidoho (behind) in a pose with Prof. Spivak and Prof Maitreyi Chandra.

A section of the audience at the Lecture