The Minister Wants What! Language in Ghana

The Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Boniface Abubakar Saddique made comments that Ghanaians should now learn Chinese language in tertiary schools across the nation has no bases.

This statement was pathetic and irrational to affirm his assertion, when he was interviewed by the producer of Ghanastoday.com on the internet radio. The question that needs to be asked is, does this minister actually know what he is doing as a minister? Does he realize that in making such statements in Ghana is obtruding other counties which have also been supporting us in our economy for many years ago? Does he acknowledge when he talks about learning a foreign language, he is not conciliatory ethnic racial in the countries where many Ghanaians are first and second generations as citizens of these countries. Did he use his common sense to make that statement that could fuel tension with his provocative language among other nations that represent the first and second generation of Ghanaian descent? Did he realize the economic inputs of these nations where these Ghanaians are first and second generation has than in our economy is enormous than what China has given to Ghana. The fact that Chinese are given loans with interest does not mean our nation should learn their language. If Ghanaians should ever learn any language it must be a German, Dutch, Italian, or Spanish language, One day an immigrant son from Ghana could rise to the presidency of the above mentions countries, including Canada, Great Britain, and United States. Look what happened in France recently, a Hungarian immigrant’s first son has risen to the French presidency. The minister has no right to choose a preference country over the others who have also contributed to the nation’s socioeconomic development that now our student should be forced to learn Chinese language.

As compared to the aforementioned countries which generation upon generation will benefit to Ghana’s economy, why can we learn their language? Ghanaians have benefited through the English language we learn from our various schools. Many of African brothers and sisters who are from non-English speaking countries find difficult especially in America, to use their skills to become self-sufficient. Don’t confuse our children with Multi- languages which are not going to benefit them. This minister does not have any clear vision for his reasons why Ghanaians should now learn Chinese because they are richer nations as the minister said in his interview. In addition, I find his assessment unfounding in the capacity the minister made his measurements from, according to the 2006 world economy data per income capital in GDP define the richest nation on earth which is Luxembourg $68, 887 United States is still $47, 560 per person while Chinese is $7,660 person. This minister should use his common sense before making any irrational statements. He should use his assumption of how best to fine ways to create jobs for our youth, not making any statements to fool the public that if they learn Chinese, it will help their cause to secure employment in China.

Those Ghanaians who went to China for teaching jobs are calling on their government to protect them, due to discrimination against their presence in China. It is the Chinese who want English teachers to teach their people, yet, they have these Ghanaian teachers living in deplorable conditions which are the reason for calling for assistance now. How can this minister justify now that Ghanaians should learn Chinese. The minister is a liar that China has limited resources, China has many resources which have helped them to become economically self sufficient.

Nana Kofi Amankwah (New York)

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.