• Philosophy, Culture and Vision: African Perspectives

    Believing that the intellectual enterprise called philosophy is essentially a part of the cultural as well as historical experience of a people, that the concepts and problems that occupy the attention of philosophers placed in different cultural spaces or historical times generally derive directly from those spaces and times, and that philosophy, in turn, has been most relevant to the development of human cultures, the Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Gyekye gives reflective attention in this book to some of the concepts and problems that in his view feature most prominently in the contemporary African cultural, social, political, and moral experience. Such concepts and problems include the following: political legitimacy, development, culture and the pursuit of science and technology, political corruption, democracy, representation and the politics of inclusion, the status of cultural values in national orientation, understanding globalization, and others. It is these topics that are covered in the essays collected in this book.

    The unrelenting pursuit of the speculative activity by the philosopher in most cases eventuates in normative proposals; these normative proposals often embody a vision-a vision of an ideal human society in terms of its values, politics, and culture. Vision, understood here, has human-not supernatural or divine-origination and involvement and requires action by human beings in order for it to come into reality. A vision may derive from sustained critical evaluation of a culture or some elements of it. Gyekye attempts an articulation of the visions of the essays contained in the book.

    Even though philosophical ideas and concerns are originally inspired by and worked out in a cultural milieu, it does not necessarily follow, Gyekye strongly believes, that the relevance of those ideas and insights is to be tetheed to the cultures that produced them. For, more often than not, the relevance of those ideas, or at least some of them, transcends the confines of their own times and cultures and can be appreciated by other societies, or cultures, or generational epochs. This trans-cultural or trans-epochal or meta-contextual appeal or attraction of philosophical ideas and insights spawned by a particular culture or cluster of cultures or in specific historical times is to be put down to our common human nature-including our basic human desires and aspirations. Thus, most of the essays published here should be of interest to the global community-i.e., to cultures and societies beyond the African.

  • Elmina, ‘The Little Europe’: European Impact and Cultural Resilience (Hardcover)

    This is a brief introduction to the history of Elmina, its castle, the people, and their traditions. It outlines the town’s 500-year relations with Europeans, highlighting the transformations that have developed out of these interactions. Written by one of the top historians of Ghana and a leading scholar of the African diaspora, the book is based on original archival information and orally-derived sources. It is also richly informed by the writer’s own personal knowledge as a Nyampa Safohen and citizen of Elmina. Despite the tremendous changes engendered by the European contact, Elmina’s historical development demonstrates an amazing degree of cultural continuity and resilience in its political institutions, social organization, economic systems and worldview.

  • Swords & Crosses: The Story of Opoku Ware School

    Our journey has been both long and short. Many are those that have departed this life, unable to share their stories. They were students like us, or teachers, or worked in other capacities within the school. All of these nurtured and formed us into the winners we are today. They and their service, their lives, and contributions should never be forgotten. For them all this book is a memorial.

    Our prayer is that the thousands of fingers that turn these pages will be a testament to the many future years ahead of Opoku Ware School, years in which, we believe, it shall move from being one of the best into becoming the very best. The quick today and those departed, through this book still have a voice, speaking of what has been, and inspiring the progress for tomorrow.

    We have been forged by the cross of Christ and a mighty sword of tradition.

    This is our story.

    Katakyie Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng (AF147) and his team have woven an intricate pattern of beauty, exemplified only by the beautiful patterns of the Asante Kente cloth. The beginnings of Opoku Ware School and its progress through the changing phases of Ghana are presented here in an easy-to-read style that will appeal to all students and lovers of history. Ably captured is the pride in identity that has bound together the men known as Akatakyie all this while; a resilient band of achievers. never resting, never floundering.

    The story really had to be told.

  • Leading An Extraordinary Life: A Guide for Personal Transformation

    A comprehensive book seeking to promote personal transformation, advancement and growth of the individual. It serves as tool to help the young and the middle aged think beyond their imagination to create wealth beyond reliance on monthly salaries or wages. Contains 23 chapters covering economics, entrepreneurship, marketing, environment, law, employment, project management, communication, Christianity, politics, motivation among others.

    Some of specific topics are making yourself employable in changing times, awakening the entrepreneur within, fitting into the corporate environment, investing in the next generation, leaving legacy and hope for the hopeless.

  • Waning Strength of Government: Essays on Nigerian Governance

    In Waning Strength of Government, Obaze draws on twenty-three of his various speeches, policy briefs, lectures and op-eds, to render exploratory essays that dissect some common patterns and trajectories that point anthetically to factors and conducts, which ought to constitute the strength of government, but don’t.  In so doing, he unmasks the prevailing weaknesses and waning strength of government – the attendant consequences, and their prevalence and implications for Nigeria.

    Such developments, with the attendant reversals, some nondescript and some dramatic, but replete with absence of resilience, leads the author to assert that democracy, “once characterized as probably the greatest expansion of freedom,” has come under assault from within its ranks, as shifts in geopolitics combine with ascendancy of non-state actors to undercut democracy.  Cognizant of the suggestion that the democratic system as conceptualized, has not just worked as expected, but is rather dysfunctional, the author asserts that nowhere is this consideration more evident and concrete than in Africa, Nigeria included.

    Waning Strength of Government piggybacks on the assertion that Nigeria’s “democracy is in reverse gear” and “the story is that of regrets and missteps.” Obaze employs an inquiry and excursion model using the flipside of McGeorge Bundy’s 1968 seminal book, The Strength of Government, to analyze leadership, political and governance challenges that continue to dog Nigeria’s nascent democracy.  The essays in this volume, which are clustered into four groupings; democratic imperatives; domestic development challenges; foreign policy dimensions and leadership and governance, explore some Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT), as well as general challenges and uncertain aspects of Nigeria’s affected democracy.

    In this very important work on Nigerian contemporary politics, leadership and dilemmas confronting the nation, the point is made severally, and vehemently too, that the strength of government is not about military capacity or use of force; but about the upholding the rule of law, consolidating democratic institutions and entrenching the social contract between the government and the governed.

  • Nyakyusa-English-Swahili & English-Nyakyusa Dictionary

    Unhappy with the policy of using English as the medium of instruction in secondary schools in Tanzania which left his students bewildered, a Norwegian volunteer teacher in Ipinda, Tukuyu, south western region of Tanzania decided that his students would probably cope with the foreign language only after they were grounded first in the structure of their own languages — Nyakyusa and Swahili. As a trilingual dictionary was not available, he set out to compile one and this well-produced dictionary is the product. Words, examples and usages are included.

  • Millionaire Writer

    Takes us on a journey many have silently wished to gain guidance on.
    Kobby Kyei
    Blogger & Philanthropist

     

    A notch into the world of rediscovery where creativity meets monetary value.
    Ameyaw Debrah
    Ghanaian Entertainment & Lifestyle Blogger

     

    Revelations are twined with actions.
    Caleb Kudah
    Broadcast Journalist

     

    Provides valuable insights toward growth.
    Cwesi Oteng
    International Gospel Musician & Songwriter

     

    Treasure trove of wisdom and inspiration for those who are passionate about writing.
    Prince Akpah
    Founder- Avance Media

     

    Argues that all writers can benefit from the business side of their craft.
    Esther Wepia Kopiah
    Writer & Content Creator

  • Unwritten Laws: The Unofficial Rules Of Life As Handed Down By Murphy And Other Sages – Hardcover

    CAPONE’S LAW. You can get a lot more done with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone.

    LANCE’S LAW. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

    MILLER’S LAW. The quality of food in restaurants is in inverse proportion to the number of signed celebrity photographs on the wall.

    WALPOLE’S LAW. Every man has his price.

    Unwritten Laws is a wonderfully entertaining treasury of more than five hundred rules, strategies, and ironical insights, with many amendments and corollaries, all associated with particular individuals.

    Organized alphabetically, from Lady Astor (“All women marry beneath them.”) to Zeno (“The goal of life is living in agreement with nature.”), from Woody Allen (“Eighty percent of success is showing up.”) to Oscar Wilde (“There are two tragedies in life. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”), Unwritten Laws contains a generous sampling of the collective wisdom of humankind.

    Hugh Rawson not only gives sources and dates for the laws, but annotates them with fascinating details. For example, Alfred Lord Tennyson’s widely accepted “In the spring a young man’s fancy turns lightly to thoughts of love” turns out to be a mistake, recent research showing that male testosterone levels are actually higher in the fall!

    This delightful book is as wonderful for browsing as it is for providing guidance over the rocks and shoals of life.

  • The Economist Style Guide: A Concise Guide for All Your Business Communications

    An authoritative reference on clear, concise writing

    Witty, concise, and enlightening, The Economist Style Guide is an authoritative resource for all your written communications. Based on the style guide used by the writers for the renowned international business journal acclaimed for its crisp, clear writing, this practical guide offers unerring guidance on grammar, usage, and style in business communications.

    Providing sage advice on writing in general (“Use the language of everyday speech”; “Long paragraphs, like long sentences, confuse the reader”; “Don’t overdo the use of don’t, isn’t, can’t, won’t, etc.”), the Guide clarifies such perpetual questions as: compare with (emphasizes differences) and compare to (similarities) different — used with from, not to or than affect (to have an influence on) and effect (to accomplish).

    There’s also invaluable information on international business terms and abbreviations, political and geographical facts, units of measurement, currencies, trade classifications, differences between American and British English, and much more.

    In today’s high-speed business environment, the ability to communicate clearly, accurately, and concisely is essential to professional success. The Economist Style Guide has become the reference of choice for business people everywhere who need practical, authoritative advice on how to improve their written communications.

    Developed from the style guide used by those who work for The Economist—the international business journal renowned for its writing excellence—this handy resource provides easily accessible answers to the numerous questions of usage, grammar, and style that frequently arise in the course of a business day.

    Offering invaluable guidance on the principles of good writing, The Economist Style Guide defines commonly misused words and expressions, and explains the correct use of punctuation, abbreviations, capital letters, and more —all illustrated with an abundance of amusing examples.

    As an aid to those engaged in international business, the Guide supplies a wealth of handy reference material on such areas as units of measurement, political and geographical terms, currencies, trade classifications, differences between American and British English, and much more.

    Whether you are dashing off a quick e-mail message or preparing a formal report, The Economist Style Guide will help you hone your language skills and sharpen all your business communications. It is an indispensable aid to clarity and precision that will prove its value again and again as the reference book you’ll keep within reach whenever you write.

  • Parasites: The Sly and Sneaky Enemies Inside You (Hardcover)

    Watch Out!! Parasites, invaders from the human environment, ages and ages ago, penetrated the world inside human beings. Since then, they have lived inside generations of human beings of all ages, in all parts of the world. Sly and sneaky in their dealings with human beings and totally dishonorable, parasites use underhand methods to enter the human body.
    Aware of people’s natural inhibitions to parasites, PARASITES INSIDE YOU presents scientific information on parasites and their clever life cycles in an illustrated, non-technical, easy-to-understand style in order to emphasize simple precautions to take to avoid parasitic infections.
  • Raising Effective Learners: Tips for Nurturing Academic Success

    Irrespective of their disposition or innate ability, every learner can develop the right skills and attitudes that can propel them to achieve high academic success. Raising Effective Learners: Tips for Nurturing Academic Success abounds with Dr. Gideon Sappor’s expertise and enthusiasm for seeing every learner achieve their possible best. This captivating book is organized into six chapters − each a gem, concerned with providing appropriate support to parents and carers who desire to support their children develop essentially authentic Self-Regulated Learning (SRL).
    Each strategy is packed with practical advice on the role of the parent and carer, and what they can do to support their child. Ultimately, this readable and well-organised book combines research-based evidence and clear, practical, and concise advice on how to harness the development of SRL skills in children.
    Raising Effective Learners: Tips for Nurturing Academic Success therefore serves to inspire, sensitise, and equip parents and carers with the real opportunities that foster the development of their children.

  • Oxford Spanish Mini Dictionary

    Suitable for: 7-11 years, Years 3-6, parents, teachers

    This is the reissued Oxford Spanish Mini Dictionary – now in an attractive new format.

    This small dictionary offers the most accurate and up-to-date coverage of essential, everyday vocabulary with over 40,000 words and phrases and 60,000 translations. Easy-to-use color design and a center section of useful words and expressions listed by topic make this dictionary ideal for travel and quick reference.

Main Menu