We Have Come Afar

Kwaku Wirekoh-Boateng

Very often, when we discuss the Ghanaian population in Canada, we tend to dwell on the negative aspects. Perhaps this is born of a belief that we can and should do better as a people, or of a learned tendency to look at ourselves in a negative light. Whatever the case may be, my belief is that it is a combination of both, but we can explore that topic in another article. For now, I think it is high time we took a break from the humdrum of negative talk and highlighted some of our positive achievements as an ethnic group. In order to do that, though, we must first put our experience in its proper context and perspective. If we do not contextualize our collective existence, we will fail to appreciate some of the things we have accomplished as a group.

The period of high immigration of Ghanaians to Canada was the mid 80s to the mid 90s. Compared to other immigrant groups in Canada, Ghanaians have not been here for long. Most if not all the other major immigrant groups – the Italians, Portuguese, Indians, Chinese, Japanese, etc. – arrived in Canada before we did. It is critically important to bear this in mind when we compare ourselves to members of other ethnic groups. The groups to which we compare ourselves today did not get where they are overnight. It is conceivable that they went through some of the same growing pains that confront us now as a new immigrant population.

In our very short existence in Canada, we have made remarkable progress. Whereas in years past, you would find a sizeable majority of the Ghanaian-Canadian population living in public housing units, you now find a significant number of our people living in their own homes. Whereas in years past, you would find many of our parents working in factories under uncomely conditions for minimum wage, you now find a lot of them running their own businesses and earning handsome salaries. We now have many of our youth working as bureaucrats with the municipal, provincial, and federal governments, along with countless more in similarly enviable professions. I can go on and on; the entire litany of our achievements would consume this page. By all indicative accounts, we have made considerable progress.

Rest assured, I have no illusions about our position in relation to other ethnic groups in Canada. Without a doubt, our community is one that faces many challenges, and indeed, this is not a call for us to rest on our laurels. It is, however, a call for us to look back and reflect on how far we have come as a people, look at how much we have accomplished and how much more is possible. Together, we have come afar and together we shall go even further.