Academic freedom not sole preserve of lecturers – Prof. Kofi Abotsi
The Dean of the School of Law at UPSA, Professor Kofi Abotsi, has said academic freedom must not be the sole preserve of lecturers, but students as well if a critical mass of generational thinkers is to be developed for the country.
He said it was important for tertiary institutions to come to terms with the fact that ensuring a holistic approach to academic freedom was the only way to promote independent thinkers and critical minds for national development.
Professor Abotsi said this at the launch of the Africa Coalition for Academic Freedom (ACAF), yesterday in Accra.
As part of its goals, the coalition aims to act as a shield for academics, ensuring that they can contribute to the global knowledge economy without hindrance.
He highlighted the need for universities to encourage independent thinking rather than forcing students to simply reproduce existing knowledge.
Prof. Abotsi noted that many lecturers prefer students who memorise and repeat their lectures rather to those who challenge ideas or think critically.
He lamented that in many universities, students were advised to simply give back what their lecturers teach in order to pass exams, discouraging independent thought.
This, he said, was a form of suppression within academia itself, even as academics demand freedom for their own research.
He noted that the world was facing a time when science, politics, and knowledge were constantly clashing.
Prof. Abotsi cited the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, where scientific research became a political issue, stressing that “Researchers had to choose between aligning with the government or the opposition, making it difficult for objective research to thrive.”
He said in some extreme cases governments attempt to control academic work, especially in totalitarian states where certain research findings could be suppressed to protect the established order.
He also raised the question of whether knowledge could be destructive and whether academic freedom should have limits.
The Law Professor raised issues of ethical concerns in research, such as cloning and genetic modifications, and asked whether there should be boundaries on what scientists could explore or not?
Many universities have ethical review committees to assess research, but he urged scholars to critically examine whether these restrictions are necessary or if they hindered academic progress.
To balance academic freedom with ethical considerations, Prof. Abotsi suggested that universities should have strong ethical review processes that do not stifle innovation.
“They should also encourage critical thinking, set clear research guidelines, and train both lecturers and students to consider the broader impact of their work,” he said
On his part, the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak said there was the need to protect academic freedom as it was often threatened by society, government, and even academics themselves.
He pointed out that many misunderstand academic freedom, as they viewed it as a privilege for university scholars rather than a fundamental right that benefits society.
Dr Apaak stressed that academic freedom was not just about better working conditions for lecturers, instead, it should be about research, knowledge sharing, and applying ideas to improve political, social, and economic conditions.
He highlighted the government’s efforts to support education, including the no-academic-fee policy for first-year students in public tertiary institutions and free tertiary education for persons with disabilities.
Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, a professor of African and Gender Studies at the University of Ghana, called on scholars to unite, defend their rights and protect their ability to conduct research freely.
“In many parts of Africa, scholars face restrictions that prevent them from freely sharing their ideas. Some even censor themselves out of fear,” she explained.
BY AGNES OPOKU
SARPONG
