Biography of professor kwesi yankah
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It is a piece of authentic, unvarnished history by a writer and public intellectual who is too modest to accept the title of a historian, but who witnessed and chronicled the most intriguing epochs of Ghana’s national life.”
“Laced with innate Fante humour, this book is a piece of deep but entertaining non-fiction that is told with the demystified simplicity of one of Ghana’s greatest academics and writers.
Yankah’s career embraces significant leadership roles in various capacities. His notable books include Speaking for the Chief, which won the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences Gold Book Award, and The Proverb in the Context of Akan Rhetoric, recipient of the Ghana Book Award. Kwesi Yankah is a gift to humanity, and this memoir is a greater gift to an unfortunate generation like mine that did not live in the era of the incisive writings of the great Kwatriot.”
The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Education Minister, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, Dr.
Sam Jonah, and Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kwesi Yankah is the author of two award-winning books, Speaking for the Chief, which won the Gold Book Award by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and The Proverb in the Context of Akan Rhetoric, which won the Ghana Book Award.
In 2021, he presented his intellectual biography through Beyond the Political Spider: Critical Issues in African Humanities.
Prof.
In 2021, he published Beyond the Political Spider: Critical Issues in African Humanities, a collection of essays examining challenges in African academia.
His influence and insights have extended across borders, and enriched students and faculty around the world.
He was early this year given special recognition by the African Association for Rhetoric for his distinguished contribution to studies in African rhetoric. Additionally, he co-edited African Folklore: An Encyclopedia and has been recognized as a fellow by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Folklore Society
Indiana University (IU) has lauded former Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Kwesi Yankah during the launch of IU’s sixth global office in Accra.
The private reception brought together educationists and high profile personalities, to celebrate the establishment of the IU’s outfit and recognise the efforts of the renowned author and academician, in the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Professor Yankah expressed elation regarding the honour bestowed on him by the IU.
“I am overwhelmed by this honour but also a little sad that it took a university from outside Ghana, from outside Africa to come and do these honours.
“That’s all I can say at the moment but I am so happy that at least somebody recognised the modest role that we have been playing in scholarship, within Ghana here, in Africa and beyond Africa.
Indiana University (IU), where he did his doctorate, has also recognized him for his distinguished scholarship.
Prof. His two most recent books are: _Beyond the Political Spider: Critical Issues in African Humanities_ (2021) and _The Pen at Risk: Spilling my Little Beans_ (2023). Yankah’s appointment as Emeritus Professor at Ashesi University underscores his lifelong commitment to education and studies in the humanities, and his readiness to continue mentoring students and young faculty.
Tags:Emeritus Professor at Ashesi UniversityLEGONMinister of State for Tertiary EducationPro Vice Chancellor at the University of GhanaProf.
Everybody knew it, so we had to hide under pseudonyms and the column that I wrote for about three years during the military regime of Acheampong through Akufo and Rawlings was called “Abosam fire man.”
“It was much later that people got to know who was behind all those pieces they were reading because quite a good number of outspoken lecturers and journalists were galled.
He has been Ghana’s Minister of State for Tertiary Education, Vice Chancellor of Central University, and Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Ghana, Legon, where he was also a professor of Linguistics, his area of specialization being ethnography of communication.
He was also Associate Director of the African Humanities Program established by the American Council for Learned Societies.
Prof.
To not be afraid to step out of your zones of comfort and to think globally, and have a sense of responsibility, that is as local as it is as global.” She stated.
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His memoir, The Pen at Risk: Spilling My Little Beans (2023), reflects on his experiences as a columnist during Ghana's military regimes. Yankah is a well-travelled scholar, former university Vice Chancellor, an award-winning public intellectual and a community activist.
He was, until 2021, Ghana’s Minister of State in charge of tertiary education.
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Professor Kwesi Yankah is a distinguished Ghanaian academic, linguist, and public intellectual renowned for his contributions to African humanities and education.
Yankah has been a visiting professor at several renowned institutions, including Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley; the University of Michigan; University of Pennsylvania; and Indiana University. #StayInformed #CitiNewsroom #CNRDigital
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Prof.
Professor Kwesi Yankah launched his book titled “The Pen at Risk, Spilling My Little Beans,” on August 30, 2023, at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The event was attended by a cross-section of dignitaries from the academia, politics, and business community.
“The Pen at Risk, Spilling My Little Beans” is a memoir that sheds light on the life experiences of the former minister of state in charge of tertiary education, as a columnist during the era of the military regime.
In an interview with the media, Professor Yankah said that he was inspired to write the book to give an account of the turbulent times in the past compared to contemporary times.
“Since I was 27, I have been in the public domain as far back as 1977 when I started writing my column for ‘The Catholic Standard’ and these are times when the press was openly not free.
But I was lucky to have hidden under that pseudonym to say whatever I wanted to say without being identified.”
The book was reviewed by Manasseh Azure Awuni, Araba Koomson, Dr. Collins Badu Agyeman, and others, who praised Professor Yankah for the wonderful literary piece.
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni speaks highly of the book, indicating that “The Pen at Risk is more than a memoir.
Yankah is widely respected in both national and international educational circles, having held influential positions and established a remarkable academic legacy.
Prof. Ready to be launched soon is his latest book: _Proudly Ghanaian: Our Gold Still Glitters._
Prof. Yankah currently serves as Chairman of the Governing Council, the University of Media, Arts and Communication, a merger of Ghana Institute of Journalism, Ghana Institute of Languages and National Film and Television Institute.
Yankah is a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences; Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and international Fellow, American Folklore Society.