Don't study English and History. Study what makes money. That's why Nkrumah's dream is not reality

Too many Ghanaians are preoccupied with making money and having a high position. Too many children and young adults are deterred from mastering the arts because, what are they going to do with subjects like English, languages, Art, Creative design, history and culture except teaching. Teaching is not a glamorous profession, one that can be bragged about like being a doctor, economist, politician, engineer or a lawyer.

Many force their offspring into these careers, whether they want to be in these professions or have the aptitude for them, because our goal in life is to make as much money as we can, and look better than others. Many also choose these professions for the status and financial gain. It's a shame we have such low standards that our self esteem is based on other people's perceptions. That we deplete ourselves in order to elevate ourselves in front of them. That we rip our children of the opportunity to contribute to our country using the gifts and talents they have. However in Ghana if you're a medical doctor, you must also be a marketing specialist. A geography professor, an art critic. Once you have a ' respected' position you must be an expert on every life topic. With their followers not realising those they worship have the mind of a fool. Only a fool believes they know a subject extensively their not well acquainted with. No wonder people do anything to get money, even if it's unscrupulous- because money is the make of a human being in Ghana, morals are important only in speech.

The post colonial and pan African movement was full of teachers, Robert Mugabe has a BA History and English. Kwame Nkrumah was a teacher, studied communism in depth, was inspired by Marcus Garvey and W. E. B Du Bois writing, before leading the Ghanaian independence revolution. Wole Soyinka who studied English, Greek and western history, and Chinua Achebe who studied English who has a great interest in traditional African culture and world religions, challenged the western narrative about the African in their writing. In a language the west could understand and restored pride in their peoples customs and history. They made the Nigerian human in their works.

Ayi Kwei Armah did the same for Ghanaians after he studied Sociology and Creative Writing, sadly his Beautyful ones are still not born. Ama Ataa Aidoo an English graduate , Efua Sunderland ( one of the first black women to study at Cambridge, studied English) and Flora Nwapa wrote novels that included the plight of the African woman. These are just a few revolutionaries, many more exist. Yet how many in Ghana know some of them, have read their works or are interested in their story. How many Ghanaians today can be bothered to learn about their culture, literature and history. When they are too busy chasing money to go and buy 60 cedis Pizza, or KFC, instead of promoting our local dishes and home made restaurants.

When you go to China, you see Chinese everywhere, in England, English, France, French but in Ghana to speak a local language to some upper class, is bush. In those countries the citizens know their culture, history and have an identity. In Ghana we will rather teach and celebrate other people's, because ours is not good enough for us. When will Ghana shake off the colonial mindset, when we discourage ourselves from learning about our culture and writing our own stories. When we discourage radicalism, and everybody must copy copy, because being different means criticism. That's a lot of people's biggest fear, how then will we stand up for ourselves against the rest of the world. Which journalists, historians, academics or religious leaders will question our leaders and society, when critical thinking it's frowned upon. Or not taught adequately, because criticism of teachers and lecturers can lead to a bad grade.

Without creativity and a sense of identity a country cannot become magnificent. It's about time we allow ourselves to think, to create and reflect ourselves. Otherwise the rest of the world who know who they are, will reflect themselves in us. Prince Charming is not coming to save us, neither will talking. We must save ourselves with action. If we looked into history and read, we might know that.

Part 2, will be available on the 27 of December.
Signed a Ghanaian who knows talking won't solve Ghana's problems.

Tuntum Nahana Akosua.