Questions from Bristol Classrooms

Rosie Martin (CEO) here.

I took Philip Ayamba the Director of our Ghanaian partner the Community Self Reliance Centre to two Bristol primary schools this morning to talk and answer questions about his country. There were lots of great questions about pets, water sources, football and food. Philip’s favourite question was “What did the slave trade do for Ghana?” from a 10 year old girl.

Philip’s answer: “It deprived us of so many things, mostly talented able bodied men and women. It killed the moral of people, especially the old people, it sent many of them to their graves. There was total neglect of the areas where they took the people as slaves. Formal education therefore arrived very very late in the country. It also contributed to colonisation: when the slave trade was banned the country was colonised for other economic benefits. However, Europe and America are trying to compensate for this by sending resources, it’s not enough, but it is something. They are doing this in many ways – trade, aid, education, cultural exchanges, and technology transfer.”

Philip’s other favourite question was about the colours of the flag and what they stand for. Red for the sacrifices of our founding fathers; yellow for the mineral wealth of the country; green for the natural and agricultural resources; and the black star of Africa when you consider such things as the fight for independence, African emancipation, prowess in football, democracy, friendliness and political stability.”

Thanks Philip!