Neocolonialism comes in different forms.
- Epistemic colonization
- Narrative Colonization
- Ideological colonization
- Resources colonization
- Soft power colonization
- Aid and grant colonization
- Budgetary support colonization
- Health colonization
- Visa and travel colonization
- Scholarship colonization
- Military aid colonization
- Linguistic colonization,
- Brain drain colonization
- UN veto colonization
LINGUISTIC AUTONOMY OR LINGUISTIC COLONIZATION
We were tormented with French language at school, both female and male versions of French, till today I can’t speak French. The latest additions are Chinese (Mandarin) and Arabic.
Do our politicians understand the international politics behind their actions, or their utmost consideration is the lobbyists capital? Almost 50% of secondary school graduates do not pass English language, why the rush to introduce new languages that has no bearing on Ghana’s national development. Are we now going to read and write from the right to the left? If China want do business in Africa, the onus lies on them to learn our language, and not the other way round.
POLICY CREDIBILITY
- Where is the credibility of this policy?
- Is it in our national interest?
- Was it thought-through thoroughly?
- Was it first experimented? If yes, where and how was it developed and executed?
- What are the outcomes?
- Who is pushing the agenda?
- Is the Ghana education service and ministry of education okaying it? Or it is the brain child of the current administration?
WHO ARE THE SPONSORS?
1. Are we using our scares resources to finance and facilitate the studying of Arabic and Chinese?
2. Are we going to train teachers in China and Arabia and at what cost to the nation?
3. Who is paying the salaries of those teachers?
4. Who benefits from such programs?
5. Is it to weaken Ghana for foreign dominance?
6. Do we have the structures for the implementation?
THE CRIMES OF THE ARABS IN AFRICA
Arab slavery and slave trade spanned for more than one thousand (1000) years. They were the first to perpetuate this heinous crimes against humanity. As it stands now, the government of Ghana, the continental body and the United Nations at large, are seeking reparations from the transatlantic slave traders. Arab invaders didn’t only Arabized their captives but also largely castrated almost all the male slaves.
PRIVATE LEARNING CENTERS
Already, there are private learning institutions where these languages are taught. Either than nationalizing Arabic and Chinese in our curriculum and over burdening our kids or learners with additional responsibilities of learning a foreign language, individuals who wish to learn could do so privately.
THE BENEFITS OF A LANGUAGE BARRIER
Close to 20 years ago, the Chinese invaded Ghana in search for Gold. The environmental impact of their invasion was catastrophic. Predominantly, most of these Chinese nationals could not speak nor understood English. That was enough disincentive for their mass migration to Ghana. Imagine the Chinese spoke English fluently. Your guess is good as mine.
WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW
- Who is financing it?
- Who is the brain behind and for what?
- How much will it cost Ghana?
- Is our country sold?
WHAT RESEARCH IS SAYING
Currently there are about 6000 Arabic instructors on government payroll.
Most of these instructors do not have SHS certificates and other educational qualifications.
- They are employed on religious grounds.
- They are employed on political grounds.
- They are employed on the grounds of inclusion.
- They are employed on grounds of minority and government’s favouritism.
- They are employed on the grounds of sentiment.
Both NDC and NPP smuggle them onto our payroll not because they are qualified.
Our neighbouring countries do not speak Arabic or Chinese.
Conclusively, in an era of STEM, it’s very important to consider our policy choices so that we do not compromise policy autonomy and policy sovereignty. Ghana must cautiously guard against the polarization of its sovereignty. Let civil society check-mate politicians before they lead us into an abyss.
By Godwin Sarfo Annan
