Professor Steve William Tonah
Professor Steve William Tonah, Professor of Sociology has delivered his inaugural lecture on the topic, “The State, Chiefs and Civil Society: A Trilateral Configuration in the Management of Social Conflicts in Ghana,” at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana.
Professor Tonah shared important insights on some of Ghana’s infamous social conflicts, highlighting the causes, key players, and why attempts to resolve such conflicts have failed.
He articulated the complex dynamics between the government, traditional, and religious leaders in the context of social conflicts, and argued that even though the state and its agencies have been seen as primarily responsible for the maintenance of peace and conflict resolution, the proliferation of intra-state conflicts has exposed the shortfalls in the abilities of the state, quasi-state institutions, and traditional leaders to resolve conflicts. This, he said, is compounded by the fact that in some instances, the arbitrators, namely, state and traditional leaders, are themselves enmeshed in these conflicts.
Professor Tonah noted that conflict resolution cannot be achieved by a “one-size fits all” approach, and called for flexibility and independent conflict-management expertise to be a vital component in any conflict resolution process.
Earlier in her introductory remarks, the Registrar, Mrs Mercy Haizel-Ashia, emphasised the significance of inaugural lectures. She noted that it is the duty of every academic who achieves the highest rank, that is full professorship, to deliver an inaugural lecture, adding that the inaugural lectures allows the University to showcase faculty, as well as publicly share their academic achievements and research findings.
The lecture was chaired by Professor Kwame Offei, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic Students Affairs, who stood in for the Vice-Chancellor. In attendance were university officials, colleagues of the lecturer, students, family members and friends, and members of the general public.
Professor Kwame Offei, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic Students Affairs
Presentations were made to Prof. Tonah from academic units of the University, corporate bodies, and family members.
Prof. Tonah receiving a gift from the Department of Sociology
Prof. Steve Tonah with his family after the lecture
