Last Thursday, I mounted the podium of the British Council to deliver a public lecture on non-literacy and leadership in contemporary governance. In other words, what premium do we put on the efforts of bold women like Madam Akua Donkor, an illiterate who sought the highest office of the land: the presidency, and dreamed of a day when Parliament will tolerate local languages.
The well-attended lecture was under the auspices of the world-renowned Ashesi University and chaired by Dr Patrick Awuah, President and Founder of Ashesi. While the full lecture is available on YouTube, I present below the reaction of one student in the audience who could not resist tabling her feedback in the social media.
“From “I wish I could be there” to “I’m so grateful I was!”
Just a few days ago, I commented under a post by Joseph Oduro-Frimpong “Really wish I could be there.”
At the time, my schedule was overwhelming—assignments, meetings, quizzes… the usual whirlwind. But something about the upcoming lecture struck a chord. The title alone:
“Multilingual Democracy: Non-Literacy and Leadership in Modern Ghanaian Governance” by Emeritus Professor Kwesi Yankah, challenged everything we’ve come to associate with leadership, intelligence, and worth in our society.
So, I made the decision to go.
And that decision turned into one of the most transformational experiences I’ve had this semester.
The lecture was raw, honest, and deeply reflective. It revealed:
- That literacy is more than English, and wisdom is far deeper than a certificate.
- That Akua Donkor, often ridiculed for her lack of formal education, actually used her own resources to uplift her community—reserving land for a university, sponsoring students, and founding a political party.
- That our local languages and cultures deserve space in national governance—not as side notes, but as central pillars of inclusion and representation.
- That formal education can sometimes alienate us from our roots and self-worth if not balanced with cultural wisdom.”
“The line that stayed with me?
“An intellectual must be literate — FALSE.”
As a student in tech, I’m learning to code in languages like Java and Python. But this experience reminded me that some of the most important “languages”—our mother tongues, our traditions, our values—are in danger of being silenced.
This lecture reignited something in me:
- A belief that true leadership is about impact, not fluency.
- That wisdom can speak Twi, Ewe, Dagbani, or Ga—and still lead nations.
- And that when we uplift local voices, we elevate democracy itself.
Huge thanks to @Joseph Oduro-Frimpong for making space for these conversations, and to Emeritus Prof. Kwesi Yankah for pouring decades of experience into this eye opening session.
To anyone reading this:
If something speaks to your heart, even when it feels inconvenient—go for it. Show up. Make time for growth. You never know how one moment can shift your perspective.”
Gertrude Akagbo
kyankah@ashesi.edu.gh
Kwesi Yankah, middle, with the Erudite Faculty of Ashesi University
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