Political Economist and Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, Dr. Tom Palmer has charged students of the University of Ghana to learn and emulate the wisdom of the late Professor George Ayittey.
According to Tom Palmer, it is the idea and wisdom of Professor Ayittey that all youth in Africa are educated so that they can speak truth to power from a very informed point of view. Tom Palmer believes an educated youth who can speak truth to power from the position of knowledge will be very important to the development of Africa.
The Vice President for International Programs at the Atlas Network gave this counsel to the students when he delivered a speech at the George Ayittey Memorial Lectures at the campus of the University of Ghana.
The George Ayittey Memorial Lectures on Freedom, Prosperity, and Youth Empowerment is an initiative of the Africa Center for Entrepreneurship and Youth Empowerment (ACEYE) aimed at igniting the potential of Africa and pave way for a freer and more prosperous continent.
The public lectures are also aimed at delving into the legacy, scholarship, and ideas of the Ghanaian economist and author, late Prof. George Ayittey, and their relevance to Africa’s current economic situation.
The lectures were a three-day event that took place on four university campuses in Ghana namely; the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), the University of Professional Studies-Accra (UPSA), Academic City University College, and the University of Ghana.
Speaking at the University of Ghana’s edition, Dr. Tom Palmer stated that the late Ghanaian economist and author was also a selfless man who gave his all to support the development of Africa. He therefore charged the youth to tap into the wisdom of Prof. Ayittey which he offered freely through his books.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Palmer noted that, “I have channeled George Ayittey’s wisdom here and that is to become educated so that you can speak truth to power from the position of knowledge. That is really the key. Professor Ayittey wrote his books not to get rich. He gave all the monies he made from his book away to activities in Africa. He didn’t die a rich man although he could have.”
“These were gifts of love. His book which is the crown of his life *Applied Economics for Africa* was a gift of love. I really encourage people to download the book…. Just read a chapter a day or a chapter a week. This gift of love from Prof. Ayittey is a gift of knowledge and liberation and prosperity. I think that is what he would have wanted me to share with you,” he added.
