story by: Juliet Obeng Ansah
Every parent dreams of seeing their child succeed — to live comfortably, earn respect, and enjoy a stable career. So when it comes time to choose a course of study, many parents instinctively lean toward the “safe” options: medicine, engineering, law, architecture, or business. After all, these are the professions that have long been associated with stability and prestige.
Yet, in that rush to secure a guaranteed future, something deeply valuable is often overlooked — the power of creativity. And nowhere is this more visible than in how society views the arts, particularly Ceramics.
In many Ghanaian homes, a child expressing interest in studying Ceramics is met with raised eyebrows. Parents ask, “Isn’t that just about clay?” or “What job will you get from that?” These questions come from love and fear — love for their child’s success, and fear of unemployment. But such thinking misses the bigger picture.
Ceramics is not just about clay pots or roadside vases. It is an evolving field that blends art, science, and technology. Modern ceramics drive innovation in industries such as healthcare, construction, energy, aerospace, and electronics. The same principles that shape an earthen bowl are used to create surgical implants, airplane parts, and durable insulators. Ceramics is both ancient and futuristic — deeply cultural, yet cutting-edge.
For the artist, Ceramics is also a voice. Through form, texture, and fire, students learn to translate ideas into powerful expressions of identity, history, and advocacy. Ceramic art speaks about climate change, gender, politics, and social transformation. It preserves what our ancestors created while giving young minds a platform to challenge the present. In exhibitions across Africa and beyond, ceramic artists are driving conversations on sustainability, culture, and justice.
Parents who allow their wards to study Ceramics are not merely supporting an art form — they are investing in innovation, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking. Ceramics education trains young people to research, design, experiment, and solve real-world problems using their own creativity. These are exactly the skills that Ghana — and the world — needs in the next generation of leaders and innovators.
The narrative must change. Ceramics is not a “less serious” course; it is a foundation for careers that combine artistry with technology, tradition with enterprise. In fact, as the world shifts toward sustainability and green industries, ceramics will become even more essential — offering eco-friendly materials, local production opportunities, and export potential.
So to every parent who is unsure: listen to your child’s passion. Let them explore the arts. Let them build, mold, and design their ideas into reality. Support their creativity, because the future will belong to those who can think differently — those who can combine skill with imagination.
Ceramics education isn’t a gamble; it’s a gateway. A gateway to discovery, to innovation, and to a new generation of Ghanaian creators who will shape the nation’s industries and cultural identity. Let’s give them that chance.
