Prof Kwesi Yankah Urges Business Schools To Formalize Int'l Languages Into Curricula

Minister of State for Tertiary Education has called for the formalization of other international languages in the curricula of Business schools in the country.

Prof Kwesi Yankah said ‘‘The Business School of the University of Ghana as well as other Business Schools should consider the Geo-political situation of Ghana. Our country is surrounded by French-speaking countries and it’s important that we as Ghanaians especially the businessmen and women at least have the basics in the French language."

‘‘The Business School should collaborate with the School of Languages to help make this dream possible,’’ he added.

Prof Yankah said, in his several encounters with Ghanaian entrepreneurs in Anglophone countries, they attest to the fact that their knowledge in French gives them an upper hand in their business, hence the move would enable Ghanaian entrepreneurs to compete effectively in the global space.

He was speaking at the 39th Management Day Celebration of the University of Ghana Business School under the theme: ‘Entrepreneurship: A catalyst for Ghana’s Socio-Economic Development’.

Dean of the University of Ghana Business School, Professor Joshua Yindenaba agreed with the Minister and explained that his department is already on the path in providing these opportunities for the students.

He said, ‘‘we’ve introduced a one year Masters Programme in International Business and students will have the opportunity of picking electives from a variety of international languages. At the Undergraduate level, students are also expected to make the same choice.’’

‘‘Going forward as business students who want to be entrepreneurs having a second language is extremely critical,’’ he added.