Ghanaian statesman, Sir Sam Jonah, has told communication students that their chosen field is central to leadership and not a “side skill.”
The mining executive said this at Wisconsin University in Accra.
“Communication is the bridge between vision and reality,” he said.
He stressed that the ability to convey ideas clearly can make or break careers and institutions.
Jonah referenced high-profile corporate failures, including BP’s oil spill and Boeing’s 737 MAX crashes, where poor communication compounded crises.
“Miscommunication is not just a public relations problem. It can be catastrophic,” he warned.
He urged students to recognize that “words shape worlds” and challenged them to wield their communication skills wisely in boardrooms, classrooms, and communities.
Sir Sam Jonah also encouraged Ghanaian students to embrace technology while cautioning against overreliance on machines and artificial intelligence.
He noted that tools such as Google, LinkedIn, and remote working opportunities have opened new frontiers for today’s youth.
“You can work remotely from Accra and be paid in dollars or yen. This is extraordinary,” he said.
But he was quick to add that “no algorithm, no machine, no AI can replace your own creativity, your own intelligence, your own grit.”
He warned that technology must remain a tool, “the wind in your sails but never the captain of your ship.”