The Combustion Chamber for Economic Growth

The private sector is often touted as the engine of economic growth—and rightfully so (see World Bank – Private Sector Development). However, an integral component of this engine is frequently overlooked, a missing element that is crucial for producing sustainable growth.

To draw an analogy, if the private sector is the engine of economic development, then the combustion chamber is the key component that ignites this engine. In an engine, the combustion chamber is where fuel and air combine under high temperatures and pressure to generate the energy needed to power the system (How Internal Combustion Engines Work – Britannica). Identifying and optimizing this chamber is essential for ensuring that the engine runs smoothly and efficiently.

In the context of the economy, the combustion chamber represents the collective mindset—the fusion of ideas, creativity, and innovation—that drives progress (OECD – Innovation and Growth). Just as the quality of the fuel and air determines the energy output in an engine, the quality of thought and decision-making among economic players directly impacts the health of an economy. The adage “garbage in, garbage out” applies here (Systems Thinking Explained). If the inputs into our collective mindset are flawed, the resulting economic output will suffer.

Therefore, nurturing and empowering the intellectual and creative capacities of people is critical for transforming potential into sustained economic growth—especially in Africa and Ghana, where this vital element has been historically underdeveloped (UNDP – Africa Human Development Report).

Critical Defect in the Combustion Chamber

Unfortunately, in Ghana and across Africa, the combustion chamber of our collective consciousness—the very engine that powers innovation and progress—remains severely defective. This defect stems from a long history of exploitation and imposed narratives, primarily rooted in three interrelated forces:

• the transatlantic slave trade (UN – Transatlantic Slave Trade),
• colonialism (Colonialism in Africa – Britannica),
• and neocolonialism (Kwame Nkrumah – Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism).

The transatlantic slave trade not only forcibly removed some of the continent’s brightest minds but also subjected them to dehumanizing conditions on plantations. This brutal practice sowed mistrust and suspicion among families, clans, tribes, and kingdoms, as European slave traders exploited and deepened existing divisions (Slave Trade and Social Fragmentation – UNESCO).

Historically, this legacy has left an indelible mark on the collective psyche of Africans, encouraging isolation rather than collaboration, partnership, and unity—values essential for economic transformation (Social Capital and Economic Growth – World Bank).

The abolition of the slave trade did not end this hemorrhage of cultural and intellectual wealth; it merely paved the way for colonialism. European colonizers imposed Western education, religion, politics, and economic systems that systematically dismantled indigenous knowledge passed down for millennia (Decolonising Knowledge – SOAS).

This indigenous knowledge had built great civilizations such as Egypt, Mali, Ashanti, Kush, and Great Zimbabwe (African Civilizations – History.com). These imposed systems devalued Africa’s intellectual heritage and redefined African identities in ways that diminished self-worth and self-reliance.

As colonization formally ended, neocolonialism emerged, perpetuating Africa’s role as a supplier of raw materials while producing little for itself (UNECA – Africa’s Structural Transformation). The educated elite—expected to lead Africa toward self-determination—often became complicit in maintaining this structure, sometimes eliminating dissent with the support of former colonial powers.

Education, Religion, and Mental Enslavement

These elites, trained in Western ideologies, imposed foreign concepts disconnected from African realities. This created widespread confusion as people struggled to reconcile indigenous values with imported systems (Education and Cultural Identity – UNESCO).

One of the most insidious tools used to maintain control was religion, particularly Western Christianity as an instrument of cultural domination (Religion and Colonialism in Africa – Oxford Academic). African spiritual systems were demonized, creating inferiority complexes that persist today.

The education system, instead of empowering Africans, became a vehicle for Western norms. African children were taught to prioritize English, French, and Portuguese over local languages (Language and Power – British Council). Parents now often avoid speaking local languages at home, resulting in identity loss.

A child without a mother tongue has no roots. Language embodies culture, values, and worldview (Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o – Decolonising the Mind). Slave masters understood this—hence the brutal practice of cutting out tongues to prevent cultural transmission. Why are we now doing this to ourselves?

Emancipate-One Mind at A Time

I have personally embarked on a journey to emancipate myself from mental slavery—a journey that began at the University of Ghana in the mid-to-late 1990s (University of Ghana). I continually question whether my ideas reflect my authentic self or are merely products of Western classrooms and media.

By blending indigenous wisdom with modern insight, I shape both my writing and business missions.

Over the years, I have observed that some of Ghana’s most innovative entrepreneurs either never entered the traditional classroom or exited early (Entrepreneurship and Informal Learning – ILO). This does not diminish formal education’s value—but it does reveal its failure to cultivate culturally grounded entrepreneurship.

Since education is largely state-controlled, I have chosen to cultivate my own mind, to rule my destiny—as Buju Banton sang in “Untold Stories” (Buju Banton – Untold Stories).

IAs Bob Marley famously said:

“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.”
(Bob Marley – Redemption Song)

Thus, freeing my mind is my responsibility.

By engaging with those untainted by Western educational norms, consulting elders, and reconnecting with proverbs, folklore, songs, and oral traditions (African Oral Tradition – Britannica), we can revive the wisdom that once built civilizations.

This will allow us to build enterprises rooted in identity, cooperation, and abundance, not Western notions of scarcity, greed, and hyper-competition.

If you choose to join me on this journey, share your experiences—no matter how small—so future generations can continue building an authentic combustion chamber for Africa’s economic engine.

Sankofa (Meaning of Sankofa – African Symbols) 🐦