Excellent article, if only those who claim to be religious but are known to be dens of iniquity will read it and understand the message.
Excellent article, if only those who claim to be religious but are known to be dens of iniquity will read it and understand the message.
Dready 10 years ago
Oh Africa Oh my GHanaiz IIII cry when Ithink our of mentality. Your piece has done it all. How? Rev. Prof. Dr Evg.Past. De de de de kaa!They think threy kwow everything..
Oh Africa Oh my GHanaiz IIII cry when Ithink our of mentality. Your piece has done it all. How? Rev. Prof. Dr Evg.Past. De de de de kaa!They think threy kwow everything..
C.Y. ANDY-K 10 years ago
I took up this issue in a two series article under the heading The Moon Shines Brightly ..., based on what Prof Ayittey wrote below about the products of the selfsame missionary schools in Sa Leone, who eventually led that co ... read full comment
I took up this issue in a two series article under the heading The Moon Shines Brightly ..., based on what Prof Ayittey wrote below about the products of the selfsame missionary schools in Sa Leone, who eventually led that country into the sorry state in which it is today.
From: George Ayittey ayittey@american.edu
To: okyeame@AfricaOnline.com, africa_think_tank@databack.com,
Subject: THE MOON SHINES BRIGHTLY .....
At 19:07 25.06.97 -0700
THE MOON SHINES BRIGHTLY . . .
Sierra Leoneans have a proverb which goes like this: "The moon shines brightly but it is still dark in some places." A village elder might use this proverb in a situation like this. After scrounging under their mattresses, pots and pans for enough of their life savings to send a child to school, he returns to the village a disaster. He can't do anything right, making a mess of everything he touches. Whereupon an elder may look steely at him, shake his head and say, "The moon shines brightly but it is still dark in some places."
To which I responded in Part 2.
Anyway, his post sent me back to something I had then been raising for quite some time on Okyeame. It touches the type of education which the young man in the Prof's story receives which makes him "mess" things up. In the Prof's own word in his presentation at NAROG 1 in Washington, become "astigmatised intellectual".
This problem was well captured in the response given by some “Red Indians” to the invitation sent to them by the white colonisers of America who requested for some young Indians to be "educated" in their new colleges. The Indians, of course, recognised the problem but their way of dealing with it saw them ending up in the squalid reservations they live in today, forerunners to the Bantustans those geniis of Apartheid were creating in South Africa.
The story is told of how by 1744 the colonisers of America had established the three colleges (Harvard, William and Mary, and Yale). Of course, they were all built according to the then British model; to teach young men in Greek, Latin, grammar, rhetoric, mathematics, and philosophy. The colonies of Maryland and Virginia entered into agreement with the Indians of the Six Nations, and in June 1744, invited them to send some of their young men to be educated at William and Mary. The Indians politely turned down the offer. I quote in full their response I have, courtesy of the infamous Flatin Committee's Report, "Grenselos Læring" (Borderless Learning) (NOU 1989: 24), which I have the enforced honour of being associated with as the then Chairperson of the Foreign Students Union of Trondheim (FSUT).
----------Quote begins-----------
"We know that you highly esteem the kind of learning taught in those colleges, and that the Maintenance of our Young Men, while with you, would be very expensive to you. We are convinced, therefore, that you mean to do us good by your Proposal; and we thank you heartily. But you, who are wise, must know different nations have different conceptions of things; and you will therefore not take it amiss, if our ideas of this kind of Education happen not to be same with yours. We have some Experience of it. Several of our Young People were formerly brought up at the colleges of the Northern Provinces; they were instructed in all your Sciences; but when they came back to us, they were bad Runners, ignorant of every means of living in the woods, unable to bear either Cold or Hunger, knew neither how to build a Cabin, take a Deer, or kill an Enemy, spoke our Language imperfectly, were therefore neither fit for Hunters, Warriors nor Councellors; they were totally good for nothing. We are, however, not the less oblig'd by your kind offer, tho' we decline accepting it; and to show our Grateful Sense of it; if the gentlemen of Virginia will send us a Dozen of their sons, we will take care of their Education, instruct them in all we know, and make Men of them."
-----------Quote ends----------
Indeed, hidden in the above quote is the root for explaining what causes "educated" Africans to "mess up", become designated as bankrupt or "astigmatised" intellectuals. I do not intend to delve into the processes here and now, as it is a major issue why the kind of education we have in Africa is failing to deliver development to the continent. I only consider it fit to bring it to the attention of the learned Prof. and sundry, since it appears to me that that realisation seems to lack in his (Prof's) and a great many others' world view of why we Africans are what we are - the chickens are simply coming home to roost!
It is simply a question of whether the "young men" and now young women are receiving the right type of education in the first place – an education largely devoid of any practical training and experience in the skills required to cope with and transform their respective environment and societies.
With some ignorantly calling for the return of former missionary established schools to the churches in order to purportedly instill discipline in pupils and students - which missionary education is at the core of the problem - I’d recommend that such ignoramuses go and read at least the book, “The Missionaries” by Monkhouse as the first step in enlightening themselves. And then we can take a look at the much talked about failure of educated Africans to behave and perform just like their European (and now Asian) counterparts.
Andy-K
Asiwome 10 years ago
The secular government may not do a better job. The core element of Christian education is what is missing. Christian education is not about dormitories, classrooms or degrees. These are not even required to prepare people fo ... read full comment
The secular government may not do a better job. The core element of Christian education is what is missing. Christian education is not about dormitories, classrooms or degrees. These are not even required to prepare people for the job market.
Frank Agyena-Karikari 10 years ago
I have a take to many of you adults contributing on this article and attended Christian schools. I believe in Freedom of Religion but I see no reason wrong if one who is not a Christian is made to be a Day student because dur ... read full comment
I have a take to many of you adults contributing on this article and attended Christian schools. I believe in Freedom of Religion but I see no reason wrong if one who is not a Christian is made to be a Day student because during church/religious services, there will be no teacher who have to baby sit students who do not belong to that religion.
To those who have taken Opuni to the cleaners, if you have kids, how many will like your kids to attend Wesley girls, Legon Presec, St Roses, Adisadel, St Augustine? How many wouuld want your children to be at Peki SHS Nanton SHS, Oyoko SHS Ada SHS , Aggrey SHS or OTublohum SHS? Why do parents troop to Mission schools instead of government school? Your answers are good as mine.
Just read to yourself again what you have written and imagine the level of English you have written. It is so because it is likely our mission schools prepared students for higher laurels than our Public schools. The old mentality that THIS FOR THE GOVERNMENT has retrogressed our country up to this level.
I am of the view that our government can partner with Mission Schools/ Islamic schools and individuals to establish more schools schools and monitor them well. By this, the payment of School stafff's salaries will be off the burden of the government. There will be effective teaching and learning as well as supervision of learning. School materials can be made available on time as I had it in mission schools in the 19.... at a mission schools.
KKO 10 years ago
What was your own achievement as a deputy minister? I can bet my bottom penny that you used your influence as deputy minister to get your child or some relation enrolled in one of those "mission schools!"
What was your own achievement as a deputy minister? I can bet my bottom penny that you used your influence as deputy minister to get your child or some relation enrolled in one of those "mission schools!"
Ghanaman 10 years ago
Why didn't he suggest that.
Why didn't he suggest that.
Ghanaman 10 years ago
"He has adopted the language, laws, religion and ethical values of the former colonial master....."
Those things serve him better than adopting Ashanti ones. And those same things unite all Ghanaians.
"He has adopted the language, laws, religion and ethical values of the former colonial master....."
Those things serve him better than adopting Ashanti ones. And those same things unite all Ghanaians.
C.Y. ANDY-K 10 years ago
My friend, what is tribalistic about what Dr Bempah wrote? Methinks, you're the one giving a tribalistic interpretation to what he wrote. He said nothing about adopting anything Ashanti. He indicts all ethnic group members fo ... read full comment
My friend, what is tribalistic about what Dr Bempah wrote? Methinks, you're the one giving a tribalistic interpretation to what he wrote. He said nothing about adopting anything Ashanti. He indicts all ethnic group members for not learning to read and write their languages, etc.
Come to think of it, most here to have the training and scholarship to appraise what is written here.
Andy-K
Ghanaman 10 years ago
So you think all the tribes in Ghana have equality in the use of their language, culture, tradition and customs? The next time someone speaks to you in his tribal language that you don't speak, and you are asked the usual qu ... read full comment
So you think all the tribes in Ghana have equality in the use of their language, culture, tradition and customs? The next time someone speaks to you in his tribal language that you don't speak, and you are asked the usual question "Aren't you a Ghanaian", accept it and quickly apologise and learn that tribal language. The only things that unite us as a nation are the very ones the oyibo gave us.
And ask yourself why Ewe children in Accra are less likely to speak Ewe in public than children from the author's tribe.
Frank Agyena-Karikari 10 years ago
If you will be honest to yourself, you will admit that tribalism exist wherever we have humans. No two humans are born the same but everywhere, each individual shows a certain high Ego. It does not bother me at all because I ... read full comment
If you will be honest to yourself, you will admit that tribalism exist wherever we have humans. No two humans are born the same but everywhere, each individual shows a certain high Ego. It does not bother me at all because I am able to feed my wife and kids without asking anybody for money. If you go to the Volta region, the people of Ho see themselves higher than the people of Nyive and Hohoe but they are from the same tribe. Then in Asante region, Juabeng people see themseves as Superior to Agona, Mampong, Nsuta and Ejura. It is equally bad in Akwapim where the Akropong see themselves as superhuman. In the Northern region, the Dagomba people see themselves as the best. Ghanaman, I have lived, visited and worked in almost all regions and many will agree with my examples. My Philosophy is that I do not have to look down and disrespect anybody because we were all created by the same God.
As to why not only Ewe but many people in Ghana speak more Twi, the answer is not far fetched. It is because it is a trading language than any other country. Why is English language spoken more than any other language in the world? Because it was the best international power in trade. Many Guans will speak Twi than any other language whenever they leave their homes.
Also, the population of the Akans is generally speaking the highest. Even in Europe, USA, Canada and the USA, apart from an ethnic Association meeting, whenever Ghanaians meet, they tend to speak twi during informal conversations.
Ghanaman, I speak Asante and sometimes some broken Ewe and Ga but I am not from there. The reason can be explained in the reasons I have enumerated.
Finally, let me tell you that whenever someone speak Akan, that person does not become Ashanti. Fantes, Bonos, Akyem, Nzema, Buem, Gonja and many more speak Asante/ Akyem Twi fluently but are not from anywhere in the region. Even between Bono, Asante, Akyem, Fante who speak close dialect in twi, there are differences. Among the Asantes, the Twi spoken at Kumasi, Agona, Juabeng,Nsuta and Kumasi, there are differsences. It is noticeable if you live with them.
francis kwarteng 10 years ago
Dr. Bempah,
How are you?
This is one of the most powerful pieces I have read. Bravo.
I shall get in touch.
Thanks.
Dr. Bempah,
How are you?
This is one of the most powerful pieces I have read. Bravo.
Excellent article, if only those who claim to be religious but are known to be dens of iniquity will read it and understand the message.
Oh Africa Oh my GHanaiz IIII cry when Ithink our of mentality. Your piece has done it all. How? Rev. Prof. Dr Evg.Past. De de de de kaa!They think threy kwow everything..
I took up this issue in a two series article under the heading The Moon Shines Brightly ..., based on what Prof Ayittey wrote below about the products of the selfsame missionary schools in Sa Leone, who eventually led that co ...
read full comment
The secular government may not do a better job. The core element of Christian education is what is missing. Christian education is not about dormitories, classrooms or degrees. These are not even required to prepare people fo ...
read full comment
I have a take to many of you adults contributing on this article and attended Christian schools. I believe in Freedom of Religion but I see no reason wrong if one who is not a Christian is made to be a Day student because dur ...
read full comment
What was your own achievement as a deputy minister? I can bet my bottom penny that you used your influence as deputy minister to get your child or some relation enrolled in one of those "mission schools!"
Why didn't he suggest that.
"He has adopted the language, laws, religion and ethical values of the former colonial master....."
Those things serve him better than adopting Ashanti ones. And those same things unite all Ghanaians.
My friend, what is tribalistic about what Dr Bempah wrote? Methinks, you're the one giving a tribalistic interpretation to what he wrote. He said nothing about adopting anything Ashanti. He indicts all ethnic group members fo ...
read full comment
So you think all the tribes in Ghana have equality in the use of their language, culture, tradition and customs? The next time someone speaks to you in his tribal language that you don't speak, and you are asked the usual qu ...
read full comment
If you will be honest to yourself, you will admit that tribalism exist wherever we have humans. No two humans are born the same but everywhere, each individual shows a certain high Ego. It does not bother me at all because I ...
read full comment
Dr. Bempah,
How are you?
This is one of the most powerful pieces I have read. Bravo.
I shall get in touch.
Thanks.