By Daniel Kofi Awuku-Asare, Contributing Writer.
Greetings, undoubtedly, is a morally acceptable mode of showing love, compassion, affection, oneness, respect and peace with one another in the world. In this article, a critical attention is paid to the concept of greetings in two countries, namely the U.S. and Ghana. Interestingly, both countries adore greetings in their own cultural image. A critical analysis of the mode and appreciation of greetings to the people in their unique cultural context and the cross-cultural integration between the two countries is essential.
Although it might be appreciated considering the significant similarities that might exist in the two countries regarding their perception and mode of greetings, not much has been identified as compared to the remarkable differences pertaining to the two cultures.
Likewise, any other culture, the Ghanaian culture places much premium on greetings just like any other development goal of the country. A person, who does not greet his or her fellow in the Ghanaian socio-cultural context, is considered simply primitive. It is also a way of communicating to people that such person is arrogant and disrespectful. Upon close observation, this proves the contrary in the US cultural environment. Though the US culture, values and appreciates greetings, the conception of who greets whom, at where and at what time is not given much meaning and interpretation on morality as it does pertain to the Ghanaian culture.
Mode of greetings is something that is equally very important to the Ghanaian socio-cultural context of the phenomenon and not the mere expression of the greetings. The conclusion is that one’s poor attitude towards greetings in Ghana may bring him or her more dishonor than one would have thought, if that person had not greeted whom he or she ought to have greeted after all. A typical scenario is to greet people with your left hand or greet an elderly person or a chief while wearing your cap. This shows a sign of disrespect. In the circumstance, one may be summoned before a traditional council and surcharged for gross insubordination and disrespect for authority. These are issue of minor consideration in the US culture. The traditional council usually comprises the chiefs and elders of the community.
Admittedly, there is a certain degree of the infiltration of Western culture into the Ghanaian socio-cultural environment in recent times. For instance, Ghanaians born and bred in the Western cultures like the US or the UK exhibit these forms of Western influence, but they are often considered victims of cultural servitude. One is not sure though, how an American would be viewed in the American socio-cultural environment should he or she exhibit typical Ghanaian cultural patterns in this regard. In any case, the judgment is yours.
To develop and enhance cultural integration, it is important for one to look at the cultural elements of individual societies with great degree of tolerance and acceptability and try as much as possible to make the transition smooth and harmonious. Should a Ghanaian of distinct international outlook, accept a greeting of kisses in a US cultural terrain when the need arises? Yes of course, as a global citizen with a better outlook to international diplomacy and cultural cohesion, he or she must not interpret motives narrowly without due cognizance to the cultural dimensions of individual partners and the geographical context.
Undoubtedly, the world needs a warm embrace of greetings of love, affection, compassion and peace, but one’s actions and inactions towards the other on this subject matter, must not be gruesomely isolated from cultural context in judgment; that would amount to cultural jeopardy.
It is clear that both Ghana and the US share many things in common, especially on their political culture, so gradually a more cohesive approach would be required to have the two consolidate their inclinations to their cultural values, norms and traditions.
