This is the heaviest stuff I have read on Ghanaweb.
This comes across as a thesis! Very informative and well-written piece!
Brother Kwesi, I have a question for you: Did Prof. Abbiw Jacksons hav ... read full comment
Dear Brother Kwesi,
This is the heaviest stuff I have read on Ghanaweb.
This comes across as a thesis! Very informative and well-written piece!
Brother Kwesi, I have a question for you: Did Prof. Abbiw Jacksons have a beautiful light-skinned daughter who did a BSc (mathematics) at KNUST?
The Jackson I am taking about later went to Canada or the US for her doctorate! She got a first class and taught me mathematics (statistics, I believe)!
This is good stuff. I am happy you openly admit your indebtedness to Kwame Nkrumah. God bless his soul.
Kwame Nkrumah (and your parents) made it possible for you to acquire quality education and to share it with us.
Please, Brother Kwesi, always remember I am one of your admirers. Ans students.
Stay blessed for educating us.
Thanks.
Kwesi Atta Sakyi 9 years ago
Yeah, Francis, many thanks for the warm rejoinder, though I am not alergic to criticism because only a fool thinks he is always right so despite being my admirer, feel free if you disagree on any point because that is the spi ... read full comment
Yeah, Francis, many thanks for the warm rejoinder, though I am not alergic to criticism because only a fool thinks he is always right so despite being my admirer, feel free if you disagree on any point because that is the spirit of academics and critical thinking. I am also your admirer of your Scholar series which plumbs the depths of literature and leaves many readers befuddled, stupefied, and nonplussed, as you are light years ahead in your wide readings. You do point us in many directions to read some or the things you have read by making copious references to them. One wonders where you derive that passion from, and what motivates a fairly young man like you to become a savant. Yes, there were two Abbiw Jackson's at KNUST, and one who is currently at Methodist University lecturing, went from Tech to work at BOG as Govt Statistician. The daughter who taught you is Ewura Ekua who has a doctorate and has written something online about black mathematicians. I am related to them on my father's side. Also Profs Acquayes, Dicksons, Yanney Ewusi, Wrights and Hutchful are related to me one way or another on my father's side. My wife's maiden surname is Abbiw. Some of these Profs also have roots in Senya Beraku and Winneba. Kwame Nkrumah's exploits cannot be contained in a compendium or a voluminous tome because they are too numerous to recount. Have a blessed day.
francis kwarteng 9 years ago
Dear Brother Kwesi,
Thanks for the response.
I am also happy to read about your family and about the individual members of your family's passion for education. This is not only very interesting but great as well.
... read full comment
Dear Brother Kwesi,
Thanks for the response.
I am also happy to read about your family and about the individual members of your family's passion for education. This is not only very interesting but great as well.
I always enjoy reading about profound thinkers such as many of those you have mention here in this essay. Prof. Acheampong is one such person.
And Abbiw Jackson's daughter (Ewura Ekua) is a gifted mathematician, a podigy if you will. I will look for Ewura Ekua's article to read and will get in touch with you for the link if I don't find it.
I do also agree with Sammy that publish your poems which are very rich in style and topical diversity. I also wish you could give us more of these educative essays to give the youth something to think about.
I am extremely happy you bring these astounding thinkers to light, individuals whom I have forgotten about until I read this piece.
Finally, I do not have much to say by way of criticism. I agree with you on most of the points you raise and discuss.
Thanks for the reminder on Ewura Ekua. Our Brother Dr. SAS will love this piece!
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 9 years ago
Akora Sakyi should apologize for describing a genius like you as "the inchoate, pseudo-psychotic polymath....."
Akora Sakyi should apologize for describing a genius like you as "the inchoate, pseudo-psychotic polymath....."
francis kwarteng 9 years ago
Dear Dr. SAS,
I am going to hire you to sue Brother Kwesi on my behalf.
But First I have to see my psychiatrist!
Hahahahaha...
Thanks.
Dear Dr. SAS,
I am going to hire you to sue Brother Kwesi on my behalf.
But First I have to see my psychiatrist!
Hahahahaha...
Thanks.
francis kwarteng 9 years ago
Brother Kwesi,
I forgot to mention your humility and profound respect for others.
I also forgot to mention that you are one of our best writers.
I am always attracted to men and women of your caliber.
Thanks.
Brother Kwesi,
I forgot to mention your humility and profound respect for others.
I also forgot to mention that you are one of our best writers.
I am always attracted to men and women of your caliber.
Thanks.
francis kwarteng 9 years ago
Brother Kwesi,
Where is Prof. Acheampong?
I wish you could ask him why he chose to torture my uncle Dr. Oduro (KNUST, mathematics department) when he took his doctorate under Prof. Acheampong.
For reasons that many ... read full comment
Brother Kwesi,
Where is Prof. Acheampong?
I wish you could ask him why he chose to torture my uncle Dr. Oduro (KNUST, mathematics department) when he took his doctorate under Prof. Acheampong.
For reasons that many could not fathom, he denied my uncle his PhD even after the latter had successfully defended his dissertation.
It took more than a decade and intercessions on my uncle's behalf by well-placed academics before Prof. Acheampong finally rescinded his decision.
I have never had the opportunity to hear Prof. Acheampong's side of the story.
Thanks.
sammy 9 years ago
Thanks mr sekyi for your piece. I have a request: please publish some of your electrifying poems which have long featured here. Don't tell me the muses have left you. Good day, sire
Thanks mr sekyi for your piece. I have a request: please publish some of your electrifying poems which have long featured here. Don't tell me the muses have left you. Good day, sire
Kwesi Atta Sakyi 9 years ago
I used to be terribly disheartened on ghanaweb as I hardly had any rejoinders to my poems. Perhaps the finesse of my language puts people off. I did not know you enjoy them. I shall try.
I used to be terribly disheartened on ghanaweb as I hardly had any rejoinders to my poems. Perhaps the finesse of my language puts people off. I did not know you enjoy them. I shall try.
Before & After 9 years ago
This makes sense and I wish to suggest a few other solutions.
The English language must be taught in English, not vernacular (you will understand this when you visit some schools in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Western re ... read full comment
This makes sense and I wish to suggest a few other solutions.
The English language must be taught in English, not vernacular (you will understand this when you visit some schools in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Western regions):
1. Peace fm and the likes are advocating for the opposite of what you're suggesting so we need to start with the media.
2. Those MPs who do not meet the English grammar & comprehension should not be allowed in parliament.
You might be surprised to know that we have very qualified people who can teach the English language but because they are being
Abeeku Mensah 9 years ago
Here are some facts to reconsider. The productive nations of this modern era the likes of China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia etc and other non–English speaking EU nations do not have English as native language neither do ... read full comment
Here are some facts to reconsider. The productive nations of this modern era the likes of China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia etc and other non–English speaking EU nations do not have English as native language neither do they use English as a medium of instruction at schools. For the good or bad of Ghana we stuck with the language of our colonial masters even as the decision to use English at our schools compelled every school pupil to learn English while learning other non-English language subjects. Do we know other independent nations of non British colonies which promote use of English as instructional language at its schools?
The best I use to hear in defense of the English language was on the ground of global business assimilation and or negotiations. Yes let those who choose to seek post secondary and post graduate courses in English do their thing. It matters that despite all the chest thumping and yahooing of our educated elite we find in Africa, especially sub-Sahara African nations, to be lacking in every basic human needs. Do we have enough medical officers to give us a ratio of 1 medical officer to 100,000 people or one fully or adequately furnished and staffed medical clinic to a community of 500,000? Are we at a state we can proudly say 80 percent of all commercial and residential facilities have indoor plumbing? Do we satisfactory managed trash dump sites? These are more critical to life than mastery of someone else’s language even as we struggle to maintain our own culture and language. China is not becoming economically dominant neither is South Korea dominating in the sciences because of their mastery of the English language, British or American; they do so because they chose to concentrate on subjects that matter with profound impact on human development but not for the appeasement of the queen or the commonwealth.
Do you think the British would have succeeded at using German as the medium of instructions at their schools had Germany won the second world war and became the dominant global machine?
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 9 years ago
You have to learn to reason well....
Debating the importance of English language in our peculiar context is rather moot since the issue is already conclusive: it is key to the success in the study of all the other subjects. ... read full comment
You have to learn to reason well....
Debating the importance of English language in our peculiar context is rather moot since the issue is already conclusive: it is key to the success in the study of all the other subjects. I used to tease my fellow Teaching Assistants at Cape Vars that English is the mother of all subjects. If you doubt my assertion, try studying any of your "important subjects" without first mastering the English language.
While I grudgingly confess that you possess a modicum of proficiency in the language yourself, your reasoning here has always been problematic. The foregoing is supposed to be a euphemism for your foolishness.
Kwesi Atta Sakyi 9 years ago
Abeeku Mensah's logic does not hold water because we cannot reverse history and he is behaving like an ostrich. Tell me, which other subject apart from Ghanaian Languages can be studied without English? Germany did not win th ... read full comment
Abeeku Mensah's logic does not hold water because we cannot reverse history and he is behaving like an ostrich. Tell me, which other subject apart from Ghanaian Languages can be studied without English? Germany did not win the war so you have no point there. Do not argue blindly. Do you know how much China is spending on teaching English? If you want greener pastures, go to teach English in China.
francis kwarteng 9 years ago
Dear Brother,
I know you will love this piece by Kwesi given English being one of your many noted specialties.
Anyway I was hoping to read some more on "Are There Scientists in Ghana?" Those two were very good. I thoug ... read full comment
Dear Brother,
I know you will love this piece by Kwesi given English being one of your many noted specialties.
Anyway I was hoping to read some more on "Are There Scientists in Ghana?" Those two were very good. I thought it was going to be a long series.
You did address issues I myself have been grappling with for a long time. It is sometimes sad that such pertinent issues are set aside while Ghana's parliament and the office of the presidence (and the larger public) dabble in irrelevancies.
We should be doing more of those!
Thanks.
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 9 years ago
1. ab nauseam, not ad nausea
2. When you say, "They even pronounce English words with typical Ashanti accent e.g. One as Whine or wine, Machine as Maheene or Maheel, Chair as Chwair, Champion as Chompia, etc.", were you ta ... read full comment
1. ab nauseam, not ad nausea
2. When you say, "They even pronounce English words with typical Ashanti accent e.g. One as Whine or wine, Machine as Maheene or Maheel, Chair as Chwair, Champion as Chompia, etc.", were you talking of well-educated Asantes or illiterate farmers? If it is the former, you are not being truthful; if it is the latter, the problem cuts across the tribes, so learn to be fair to the Asantes.
You are very good but be careful in what you allege because as you rightly said, you never know who is reading.
Kwesi Atta Sakyi 9 years ago
We say ad nausea or ad nauseam, because ad means 'to' e.g 'ab initio ad finim', 'from beginning to end'. Dr SAS needs some education from a 64 year old of 44 years experience. Hmmmm1 Small boys are young, and they should look ... read full comment
We say ad nausea or ad nauseam, because ad means 'to' e.g 'ab initio ad finim', 'from beginning to end'. Dr SAS needs some education from a 64 year old of 44 years experience. Hmmmm1 Small boys are young, and they should look before they leap!
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 9 years ago
Sorry Akora Sakyi...
I did mean to write "ad nauseum" in the first instance, not "ab nauseum".
I have still not seen "ad nausea" though. I should be happy to have your input and experience on "ad nausea".
Sorry Akora Sakyi...
I did mean to write "ad nauseum" in the first instance, not "ab nauseum".
I have still not seen "ad nausea" though. I should be happy to have your input and experience on "ad nausea".
Kwesi Atta Sakyi 9 years ago
Merriam Webster's New World Dictionary, 4th Edition states on page 18 thus: ad nauseam- (Latin, to nausea) to the point of disgust: to a sickening extreme. Collins Dictionary states: ad nauseam- if someone does something ad ... read full comment
Merriam Webster's New World Dictionary, 4th Edition states on page 18 thus: ad nauseam- (Latin, to nausea) to the point of disgust: to a sickening extreme. Collins Dictionary states: ad nauseam- if someone does something ad nauseam, theydo it repeatedly and over a long period of time so that it becomes annoying or boring. e.g. We discussed it ad nauseam. So you see, ad nausea is also correct as per Merriam Webster.
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 9 years ago
The latin expression is "ad nauseam", not "ad nausea". There is no expression like "ad nausea" as far as I know. You may dispute my claim by showing dictionary proof of the expression "ad nausea".
You cannot just parse a fu ... read full comment
The latin expression is "ad nauseam", not "ad nausea". There is no expression like "ad nausea" as far as I know. You may dispute my claim by showing dictionary proof of the expression "ad nausea".
You cannot just parse a full Latin expression and turn a part into latinate English (nausea) and argue that the English part suits the Latin part, therefore you are correct in putting them together.
Having said this, I am already ashamed of myself for the panoply of errors I am spewing here: I wrote "ad nauseum" in my previous post!
Kweku Donsuro 9 years ago
I m sorry Dr SAS for perhaps hyperbolic language and stooping so low I have never been this tribalistic. Yes you are right that rural-trained or illiterates will have such accent.
I m sorry Dr SAS for perhaps hyperbolic language and stooping so low I have never been this tribalistic. Yes you are right that rural-trained or illiterates will have such accent.
NII 9 years ago
WHEN WE SACK ALL WHITES FROM GHANA YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENLISH LANGUAGE IS AS CRIMINAL AS THOSE OF YOU PROMOTING IT,THE ENGLISH AND ALL THE DOGS WHO CAME TO ROB AND SELL US.I ASK FOR FORGIVENESS FROM OUR CLEVER ANCE ... read full comment
WHEN WE SACK ALL WHITES FROM GHANA YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENLISH LANGUAGE IS AS CRIMINAL AS THOSE OF YOU PROMOTING IT,THE ENGLISH AND ALL THE DOGS WHO CAME TO ROB AND SELL US.I ASK FOR FORGIVENESS FROM OUR CLEVER ANCESTRY FOR YOU
D.Fakye 9 years ago
I fear sometimes for the danger in the stupidity and innocent ignorance of some of our brothers from Africa.
I fear sometimes for the danger in the stupidity and innocent ignorance of some of our brothers from Africa.
Ghanaba 9 years ago
We need technology the more.What will English do for you?That is why Ghanaians are suffering .Speaking big English has not helped us.You read about that pastor producing vehicles in Ghana now . let's encourage ourselves to do ... read full comment
We need technology the more.What will English do for you?That is why Ghanaians are suffering .Speaking big English has not helped us.You read about that pastor producing vehicles in Ghana now . let's encourage ourselves to do something , English will not help Ghanaians now.No thanks.
We have lost a lot of inventers because of this language,english.
Dear Brother Kwesi,
This is the heaviest stuff I have read on Ghanaweb.
This comes across as a thesis! Very informative and well-written piece!
Brother Kwesi, I have a question for you: Did Prof. Abbiw Jacksons hav ...
read full comment
Yeah, Francis, many thanks for the warm rejoinder, though I am not alergic to criticism because only a fool thinks he is always right so despite being my admirer, feel free if you disagree on any point because that is the spi ...
read full comment
Dear Brother Kwesi,
Thanks for the response.
I am also happy to read about your family and about the individual members of your family's passion for education. This is not only very interesting but great as well.
...
read full comment
Akora Sakyi should apologize for describing a genius like you as "the inchoate, pseudo-psychotic polymath....."
Dear Dr. SAS,
I am going to hire you to sue Brother Kwesi on my behalf.
But First I have to see my psychiatrist!
Hahahahaha...
Thanks.
Brother Kwesi,
I forgot to mention your humility and profound respect for others.
I also forgot to mention that you are one of our best writers.
I am always attracted to men and women of your caliber.
Thanks.
Brother Kwesi,
Where is Prof. Acheampong?
I wish you could ask him why he chose to torture my uncle Dr. Oduro (KNUST, mathematics department) when he took his doctorate under Prof. Acheampong.
For reasons that many ...
read full comment
Thanks mr sekyi for your piece. I have a request: please publish some of your electrifying poems which have long featured here. Don't tell me the muses have left you. Good day, sire
I used to be terribly disheartened on ghanaweb as I hardly had any rejoinders to my poems. Perhaps the finesse of my language puts people off. I did not know you enjoy them. I shall try.
This makes sense and I wish to suggest a few other solutions.
The English language must be taught in English, not vernacular (you will understand this when you visit some schools in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Western re ...
read full comment
Here are some facts to reconsider. The productive nations of this modern era the likes of China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia etc and other non–English speaking EU nations do not have English as native language neither do ...
read full comment
You have to learn to reason well....
Debating the importance of English language in our peculiar context is rather moot since the issue is already conclusive: it is key to the success in the study of all the other subjects. ...
read full comment
Abeeku Mensah's logic does not hold water because we cannot reverse history and he is behaving like an ostrich. Tell me, which other subject apart from Ghanaian Languages can be studied without English? Germany did not win th ...
read full comment
Dear Brother,
I know you will love this piece by Kwesi given English being one of your many noted specialties.
Anyway I was hoping to read some more on "Are There Scientists in Ghana?" Those two were very good. I thoug ...
read full comment
1. ab nauseam, not ad nausea
2. When you say, "They even pronounce English words with typical Ashanti accent e.g. One as Whine or wine, Machine as Maheene or Maheel, Chair as Chwair, Champion as Chompia, etc.", were you ta ...
read full comment
We say ad nausea or ad nauseam, because ad means 'to' e.g 'ab initio ad finim', 'from beginning to end'. Dr SAS needs some education from a 64 year old of 44 years experience. Hmmmm1 Small boys are young, and they should look ...
read full comment
Sorry Akora Sakyi...
I did mean to write "ad nauseum" in the first instance, not "ab nauseum".
I have still not seen "ad nausea" though. I should be happy to have your input and experience on "ad nausea".
Merriam Webster's New World Dictionary, 4th Edition states on page 18 thus: ad nauseam- (Latin, to nausea) to the point of disgust: to a sickening extreme. Collins Dictionary states: ad nauseam- if someone does something ad ...
read full comment
The latin expression is "ad nauseam", not "ad nausea". There is no expression like "ad nausea" as far as I know. You may dispute my claim by showing dictionary proof of the expression "ad nausea".
You cannot just parse a fu ...
read full comment
I m sorry Dr SAS for perhaps hyperbolic language and stooping so low I have never been this tribalistic. Yes you are right that rural-trained or illiterates will have such accent.
WHEN WE SACK ALL WHITES FROM GHANA YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENLISH LANGUAGE IS AS CRIMINAL AS THOSE OF YOU PROMOTING IT,THE ENGLISH AND ALL THE DOGS WHO CAME TO ROB AND SELL US.I ASK FOR FORGIVENESS FROM OUR CLEVER ANCE ...
read full comment
I fear sometimes for the danger in the stupidity and innocent ignorance of some of our brothers from Africa.
We need technology the more.What will English do for you?That is why Ghanaians are suffering .Speaking big English has not helped us.You read about that pastor producing vehicles in Ghana now . let's encourage ourselves to do ...
read full comment