Academics and industry leaders call for critical thinking and attitudinal skills

Academics and industry leaders have called for educational institutions to produce graduates with critical thinking and attitudinal skills to safeguard Ghana’s developmental interests and build a productive country.

The call was made at the maiden panel discussion on the topic; “The relevance of philosophy and classics to Ghana’s development” organised by the Association of Philosophy and Classics Students in collaboration with the Department of Philosophy and Classics at the University of Ghana on 10th October 2017.

The panel discussion, which was part of an orientation for fresh men and women of the Department, involved academics and alumni from classics and philosophy, and a human resource expert; Mr. Timothy Karikari of Global Media Alliance.

The event, with an audience of over 400 students, was moderated by an alumna of the department; Regina Amegah who is currently a youth/gender advocate and law student.

Other panelist included Dr. Richmond Kwesi of the University of Ghana Philosophy department, Prof. Olakunbi Olasope of the University of Ibadan’s Classics department, Mr. Curtis Nettey; an accountant at Genesis Oil and Gas and Mr Shadrack Akrofi-Quarcoo, a former UN worker and Founder/Coach of the Gold Empire Foundation.

Mr. Michael Okyere Asante, a lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Classics department and patron of the Philosophy and Classics Students Association stressed on the need for critical thinking in all aspects of a nations development and personal lives.

He said, “most of Ghana’s woes are due to decisions taken without critical thinking and if leaders would think critically about decisions and how they affect the future, the younger generation would be better off”.

He called for an appreciation and inclusion of analysis and thinking in our everyday decisions for a better living.