Whatever happened to inculcating the habit of reading.
August 18, 2008
“If you want to hide something from a Ghanaian put it into writing”. This is an interesting comment we received from a listener. The magnitude of truth of this statement is saddening but however true.
Without being bias let us all ask ourselves, “What was the last book we read?” How often we read thrusts our ability to posses knowledge which is ubiquitous, unfortunately we cannot say the same for the obviously dying reading habit of Ghanaians.
What has accounted for our fading if not dead habit of reading?
Time constraint by our busy schedule which may be due to work, school or some other external pressures perhaps could afford us little or no time to pick a book for starters.
Some people blame their parents for not inculcating in them this habit and in some cases for preventing them from reading materials other than academic.
The predominance of local speaking radio and television programmes was not left out. Some teachers are said to teach in the local dialect as according to them students understand better than in English and for this the teacher becomes the only source of information since reading would pose confusion for the students.
Some fingers have been pointed at the media for their sole concentration on politics.
Taking the largest portion of responsibility is the taking over of information technology I.T. as most Ghanaians for that matter would rather obtain information from the internet, television and elsewhere rather than from books for convenience.
Reading is undesirable to many Ghanaians and for some others they just feel too lazy to pick up a book then to talk of reading.
An intelligent question you might want to ponder over is why there is the need for you to read. We must do so to be informed, simply put we need to be abreast of time.
How often do you read?
So tell me, what was the last book you read?
Send your comments here………………………….
Comments
13 Responses to “Whatever happened to inculcating the habit of reading.”
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well kojo , it is infact true that If you want to hide something from a Ghanaian put it into writing. I wish i do’nt attribut it to our educational system which is only intrested in producing paper (certificate) graduates.
How do expect we the young ones to read. we’ll only be ”chewing pouring passing and forget..
We are also introduce to the television at early stage of childhood.Our parent wil buy sweets insted of book to read .It is said teach the child the way go and they will not depart from it.
Oh my God, did the Minister of Information confirmed people needs to be paid tp attend rally. Oh come on NPP is low level mentality.
Ebei! Effua you hurt my feelings as Wala/fante boy I am highly insulted and Furious about things going on in Bawku and Tamale. I hope next time you will specify the area of conflict by name or region and not zone. Is just like a whiteman thinking all Africans are from the same town.
peace and love.
Kojo, where is Ato?
It is not only that Ghanaians do not like reading< however, we as kids are not encouraged to read by our parents. they ll simply by for us mobile phones and all what they know is inculcating into us what they could not do when they were kids. fro a parents who was not good at mathematics when at school would simply consent to a child who fails mathematics exams.
Hello Kojo,
Kindly wish our first baby boy,Kojo Sedy who turns one(1) this September 10 a Happy
Birthday. May he grow up to be an accomplished son of Ghana and the world.
Please tell little Kojo that mum and dad love him very much!
Pius & Elikem
kojo i think you are doing great on your fridays programe,keep it up,boy……
WE CAN ORGANISE PEACEFUL ELECTION IN THIS COUNTRY BY PUTTING IN A SYSTEM THAT WILL ALWAYS PROHIBIT AN INCUMBENT GOVERNMEN FROM TAKING PART IN THE ELECTION.
THIS WILL REMOVE ANY SUSPICION IN THE OPPOSITION AND ALSO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO ABUSE OF INCUMBENCY. TO ENSURE THAT THE PARTY IN POWER DOES NOT FORM ANY PARTY TO CONTEST ON IT BEHALF, WE SHOULD BAN THE FORMATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES AFTER A CERTAIN GIVEN TIME.
HOW CAN WE EXPECT THE JUCICIARY AND THE SECURITY AGENCIES TO BE FAIR IN AN ELECTION IN WHICH THE ONE WHO APPOINTED THE HEADS OF THESE INSTITUTIONS HAVE SPECIAL INTEREST. I
THINK IT IS HIGH TIME WE DEVELOP AN ELECTORAL OR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION OUR SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SITUATION. WE ARE IN AN ENVIORONMENT WHERE PARTIES IN POWER DUE TO THEIR CORRUPT PRACTICE ARE ALWAYS ADAMANT TO LEAVE OFFICE AND TO ASK SUCH PEOPLE TO BE REFEREES IN A GAME THEY ARE TAKING PART DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME.
TAKE FOR EXAMPLE THE CASE IN WHICH THE GUSHIEGU DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN ACCUSED AS MASTERMINDING THE SHOOTING AND THE BURNING OF HOUSES YET THIS SAME PERSON IS SUPPOSE TO BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT SECURITY COUNCIL.
APART FROM ENSURING FREE AND FAIR ELECTION THIS SYSTEM WILL REDUCE CORRUPTION DRASTICALY AS THE PEOPLE IN POWER WILL KNOW THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS THEY WILL LEAVE POWER IN AN UPCOMING ELECTION. ALSO THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE DECISIONS THAT MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE RATHER THAN POLITICAL SENSE LIKE CLEARING STREETS OFF HAWKERS AND PULLING DOWN BUILDINGS IN WATERWAYS.
I KNOW THE POLITICIANS WILL NOT ACCETP THIS SYSTEM BUT IS UP TO US THE CITIZENRY TO DECIDE WHAT WE WANT AND FORCE THEM TO ACCEPT IT. ABDUL-KARIM MOHAMMEDBOX TN-27 ACCRA024-4782896, 027-5919245
Kojo,
Honestly I think its not true that Ghanaians do not read or are reading less now. It depends on what books you are refering to. I have never come across a people on this earth who read more text books and religious literature than Ghanaians and Africans. Just look at the prolifieration of text books, religious and self help books in the country!!! Ghanaians read but not necessarily relevant stuff. We read text books and religous literature and thats about it.
We do not read academic journals, Afro-centric books and history books about our heritage as a people. And that is unfortunate.
Hi kojo,
If akuffo addo does not tell the people of ashanti and eastern regions to change their one way pattern of voting as he told the people of the north and volta,he would have insulted the rest of us who do not come from the regions that continue to vote for the npp no matter what.
I wish you guys can really play back some of the things politicians on both sides said to us in november 2000.
Thanks nii new gbawe
kojo,
Only human beings speak and it is not for nothing that when ghanaian children are born abroad they speak the language of those countries with the accents as well.
Does that surprise you?Is it any wonder that no matter where an animal eg a goat,cow or dog is born and moved to,it would make the same sound.ie if a dog is born in south africa and brought to ghana,it will still bark.There is no difference between a south african and ghanaian bark.
If we do not learn to read and write English we would remain where we are as a country.ie the animal level.This is precisely because everyone in this world can speak a language,but it is how to document that language that determines your level of development.
The point I am driving at is that not until we work on literacy ie reading and writing our languages,we would remain illiterate.I think the greatest challenge we face is the number of radio stations that broadcast in twi especially and to allow people to contribute to programs.This may not be bad per se,but beyond that it does not challenge people to study English much more learn to read and write it.
Is it any wonder the kind of BECE results we are getting.The children do not understand the questions which would forever be set in English.
Are you also surprised at the quality of students coming out of our universities.It is pathetic at interviews when they try to express themselves.On campuses they either speak twi or broken English and expect things to work out in their essays.
A policeman stops you and assumes you must speak twi by all means.What language was he trained in and how does he write reports.?
A delegation from the akan speaking area of our country calls on Prez Kufuor and immediately he swings into twi forgetting he is prez of Ghana and English is the official language.I believe the constitution stipulates that you cannot be president if you do not speak English.
Try getting people to fill forms or questionnaires and you would see what you get
If we keep awarding radio stations that broadcast in local languages our children would be doomed.Why don’t they review papers that are written in local languages ..People would always remain in their comfort zones and not challenge themselves to get out.
Is it not pathetic that we are surrounded by french speaking countries and yet there is no compulsory policy on french in our schools and country for that matter.Does not the average french scholar speak better English than a Ghanaian speak French?
There are those who would immediately say i am being tribal.Of course if I met you and you expect me to speak your language,then I must be able to reply in mine even if you also did not understand it.Would that not be chaotic and fruitless.We need to speak our local languages with our children at home so we can enjoy our traditions,secrets etc
Globalization is the answer.
(1) The country must strive to get everybody educated.to read and write an international language.
(2) Shock every one out of this comfort zone by not allowing broadcasts in
local languages for people to strive to educate themselves.People have
educated themselves that way in the past.
(3) The world is not waiting for us and lack of basic reading and writing is killing us.
(4) No local language has enough words to allow us to compete.The reason I believe is that we have words for all the natural things God created that we met on this earth,beyond it is the level of development that determines the rest.ow can you give a name to something you did not create.
(5) Inter marriages must be encouraged with Tax incentives to help move us toward being more ghanaian.A man who has a GA FATHER AND FANTI MOTHER marries a woman who has an EWE FATHER AND DAGOMBA MOTHER, yes that child from this union is the Ghanaian we must be looking for and i bet you it would clean up our politics immediately.It would also put chieftancy in a more ceremonial position for now and wherever eventually,I bet you there would be peace.Leadership should be earned and not by birth.
Kojo please give me the name of the following items in any local language of your choice.
Door Hinge,Woofer,Speaker,Amortization,proton,Diode,Scanner,Carburetor,
Add on to the list and maybe have a laugh,but that is how serious it is.You can only have a name for things you have created or capable of creating.
This country needs some radical things to be done if we are to break away from all this mediocrity around us.
Hi Kojo, It sound interesting when we say if you want to hide something from a ghanaian, put it in writing, to some extent it my be true, well taking myself as an example, the only thing that sound interesting to me reading is my lecture notes or any book that will allow me to pass my exams. I can be blant with you, all mylife time, i have never read any story book which i could remember if my memory serves right so it could be true.
Hi Kojo
can you checkout the article Sir Sam Jonah wrote about Tsatsu Tsikata in the Monday Tuesday 6,7 Oct 2008 of the Daily Graphic.
can you checkout the article Sir Sam Jonah wrote about Tsatsu Tsikata in the Monday Tuesday 6,7 Oct 2008 of the Daily Graphic.