Ghana Toastmasters: We're getting together

During the Second World War, at a parachute making factory, workers made thousands of parachutes for the war effort. This was a painfully tedious job. They spent long hours at a sewing machine stitching miles of plain white fabric.

Every morning workers were reminded that every stitch was a lifesaving operation; their husbands, brothers or sons might wear the parachute they sewed that day. The fact that the vision remained before them and they knew that it would not be completed without them kept them going.

It was Brian Tracy who reasoned that “Personal development is a major time-saver. The better you become, the less time it takes you to achieve your goals.” I believe. Because relating the parachute story above to my own personal development journey revealed a fact: it is hard work. Personal development is continuous and never ending! But need I remind you? It is a “time-saver” for a lifetime adventure.

On the flip side, Toastmasters makes this process simpler and easier for me, and many others. Looking back, I sometimes get amazed about the transformation that has occurred on my pursuit to becoming an effective communicator. Perhaps, here is an opportunity to throw a little light on what Toastmasters is all about.

Toastmasters International provides the platform for members to develop a unique path to enhanced communication and leadership skills through our various education programs.

In other words, we offer the best environment to keep stitching the parachute of self-development resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth, and eventually the betterment of society. I am of the belief Toastmasters can make a great contribution to the development of our dear country Ghana. As a matter of fact, it is doing that to an extent. It is in that stride, week after week, members take turn here to highlight the benefits of Toastmasters to the wider Ghanaian community.

Our history has it that since the first club ?Accra Toastmasters? got chartered in 2006, Toastmasters International has been operating in Ghana predominantly as community clubs. The community clubs usually have open membership policy.

In the last few years, however, a number of corporate organisations in Ghana have found value in the Toastmasters education program thus aligning it with their respective internal learning and development policies ? giving birth to corporate clubs in Ghana.

It is exciting to note that the US Embassy, Stanbic Bank, General Electric, Barclays Bank, Fidelity Bank, KH3, and Access Bank have Toastmasters clubs. So is it refreshing to observe, from where I sit, that currently there are as many community clubs as there are corporate clubs of the total number of 19. What does this mean? Ghana Toastmasters is growing. Yes, we are fast growing! But the question that begs for an answer is: In what ways could the membership growth be harnessed for development beyond personal development?

It is in that spirit of reasoning that the current leadership of Ghana Toastmasters is holding the maiden Division G Conference. The conference, themed #WeAreGettingTogether, seeks to bring all the clubs in Ghana together to leverage on their strengths while lending support to each other in overcoming our challenges.

Do you know what is special about this Conference? The book, The Dawn of Ghana Toastmasters authored by our co-founder Mr Joe Lartey (Over-To-You) and Evans Adu-Gyamfi our Division Program Quality Director (PQD), will be officially launched at the conference. Who is the man Joe Lartey? You may wonder. Here’s a gist.

After thirteen years of teaching up and down the country, Mr Lartey literally strolled into the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on the strength of his eloquence and brilliance and speedily became a star sports and ceremonial commentator (many called him the eyes and ears of the listening public).

In the process, the accolade “Over to You” became part of his name. Alongside radio commentary, Mr Lartey organized coaching in public speaking, eventually becoming a co-founder of the first club of Toastmasters International in Ghana.

As a ceremonial and sports commentator with GBC, he covered the first visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ghana (1961); the commissioning of the Tema Harbour (1962); the World Featherweight title fight between Sugar Ramos and Floyd Robertson (1962).

Then he had the rare privilege to interview one of the world’s boxing legends, the late Mohammed Ali when he first visited Ghana (1964). He also covered the first All African games, Brazaville (1965); the first O.A.U conference hosted by Ghana (1965); the Munich Olympics (1972); the Moscow Olympics (1980); five Africa Nations Cup Championships etc. etc. And the list goes on without end. At ninety-two he is still talking and teaching presentation skills.

Such is the man who tells the story in writing about how it all started. I must admit I find the comment on the book by Ilana Herzberg, a Brand Specialist at Toastmasters International, most apt: “It was lovely learning about the story of Toastmasters in Ghana, how it came to be and the beautiful bond shared by those who contributed to the book”.

Have I any better words to share with you on insights from the book when it has a first word by PQD Evans Adu-Gyamfi? Hear him: “…this ‘little’ book contains a part of the history of how the inspiration of one man wedded another’s to give birth to Toastmasters International in Ghana. It was a seed in embryo which has now grown to a huge tree. And the prospects are that the branches of this tree will spread all over Ghana. And it is my firm belief that the Toastmasters education and recognition programs will continue to benefit not only professionals but a wide range of others”.

Evans continues, “Isn’t it interesting to note that Ghana’s first president Dr Kwame Nkrumah had a toastmaster? Collinwoods Williams was his name. He even had a traditional toastmaster, the famous Okyeame Akuffo. Mr Joe Lartey who was a ceremonial commentator of the only state radio at the time, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) was superbly privileged to see a lot of both Collinwood Williams and Okyeame Akuffo.

He was fortunate to see both of them rise to the pinnacle of success - they were on everybody’s lips. As you go on to read about Nkrumah the Orator in the third chapter of this book I am introducing, you would be tempted to wonder whether a good leader ought to be a good speaker, or vice versa.

On that subject, Mr Lartey draws on his depth of experiences as a broadcaster, sports and ceremonial commentator, public speaking advocate and coach among others, to emphasise: that public speaking is an art that must be learned no matter your status in life…that with a strong will anyone can rise from a non-performer to a star speaker.

Not only will you enjoy the flow of juicy language spiced with thick facts and history; you will equally be exposed to a deep sense of appreciation for the ‘spoken word’. I have no doubt you will smirk at Joe’s throwback to public speaking in the Gold Coast before Don Diego de Azambuja’s arrival on the shores of Elmina in 1849 during the reign of King Kwamena Ansah”.

My dear friend, this is only part of our story and history as Ghana Toastmasters so far. I sincerely look forward to our new story waiting to be told as #WeAreGettingTogether. Join us at the Conference! The date is Saturday November 16, at the Stanbic Heights, Airport City in Accra. The time is 3pm. And the rate is FREE.

About The Writer

Michael Adote is Division Director of Ghana Toastmasters (Division G). Prior to this role, he served in various capacities including Area 3 Director with oversight of six Toastmasters Clubs in Accra and Kumasi. Michael is a Life Coach and founder of Horesh, a leadership development organization committed to Build, Raise, Repair and Restore individuals in the identification and pursuit of their purpose.

Ghana Toastmasters Contact:

+233(0)246480040 /+233(0)248698966

toastmasters.ghana.divg@gmail.com