May God let wisdom rain over Ghana

The Minister for Education of Ghana has announced that Arabic and Chinese (Mandarin) are a must in the curriculum of schools in the country. Ghanaians on Social Media raise their concerns and displeasure. They argue that local languages such as Twi should be promoted more besides the official language, English, of the country.

Arab countries teach their pupils English, as in Chinese schools, as the universal business language. Arabs or Chinese unable to speak English run businesses only in their local territory with no exposure to foreign nations and their business communities. These people are reluctant to travel abroad and see the world as tourists.

Ghana needs first and foremost jobs, and jobs and jobs. Not any kind of jobs. These jobs must be innovative and sustainably regenerated, not by foreign investments and outside ideas but from within by the entrepreneurial talents of Ghanaians themselves. Such jobs stimulate and create further jobs like married couples giving birth to the next generation.

China, overcoming Communism and poverty, invited Westerners to come to China and teach them what they knew. In the fastest possible time, Chinese learnt from Europeans and Americans, copied their products to sell them back to them at lower prices, taking their market shares and competing in all sectors of the economy. Germany once was a toy producer; now it imports 90% of its toys from China.

Several of my students want to become entrepreneurs, asking me how to generate an idea which can make them rich. The idea is the first step of a long journey. Economic tools like financial planning, marketing, strategy to open up markets, how to find investors, bookkeeping, company legal forms, and other aspects are vital to know for a successful story, not only an idea which fades away in the ocean of dreams.

Some schools in Germany and Austria have set up incubators for interested pupils to work on their ideas and start-ups. While some start-ups are seen as school projects to learn from others, make it into the real world and face the markets. They create the atmosphere and platforms needed to generate jobs, and jobs and jobs.

Ghana, on the other hand, wants pupils to study what they do not need! Oh, Lord in Heaven, if you are real and a merciful God: let wisdom rain over Ghana.