Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi Warns: Fools Die for Want of Wisdom

Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi has called on Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to pursue wisdom rather than focusing solely on money, fame, power and social connections.

In a thought-provoking reflection titled “Fools Die for Want of Wisdom,” Ras Caleb referenced the biblical teaching in Proverbs 10:21, arguing that the statement is not a curse but a principle that reflects the consequences of rejecting wisdom and good counsel.

According to him, the consequences of foolishness extend beyond physical death and can also result in the collapse of businesses, marriages, talents, visions and even nations.

“Every day in Ghana, in Africa, in the world — fools are dying. Not only the death of the body, but the death of vision, the death of business, the death of marriage, the death of talent, the death of a nation.”

Ras Caleb stressed that foolishness should not be equated with a lack of education or financial resources.

He noted that academic qualifications and wealth do not automatically make a person wise, arguing that some highly educated and wealthy individuals can still make destructive decisions because they fail to apply wisdom.

“A fool is not a man who lacks a certificate. I have seen PhD holders who are fools. A fool is not a man who lacks money. I have seen rich men who are fools,” he stated.

He described a fool as someone who despises wisdom, rejects correction, ignores counsel and knowingly chooses falsehood because it is more convenient or pleasurable.

Ras Caleb further distinguished intelligence from wisdom, saying:

“Wisdom is not intelligence. Wisdom is application.”

He explained that while an intelligent person may know how to make money, a wise person understands how to preserve, multiply and use money responsibly.

Similarly, he said an intelligent person may know how to speak, but a wise person understands when silence is more appropriate.

Why fools die

Ras Caleb identified several behaviours that, in his view, lead people toward failure and destruction.

 They hate correction

He argued that wise people are willing to accept correction, while fools often become hostile when their mistakes are pointed out.

According to him, a wise person can be told that they are wrong and respond with gratitude, whereas a fool may respond with insults, blocking, confrontation or rejection.

He applied this observation to politics and the entertainment industry, arguing that political leaders who ignore the concerns of young people and musicians who refuse advice from their managers can eventually suffer the consequences of their decisions.

He warned that individuals who surround themselves exclusively with people who praise them deprive themselves of the opportunity to receive honest criticism.

They want everything quickly

Ras Caleb also criticised what he described as the desire for instant wealth, fame and gratification.

He said wisdom requires patience, while foolishness often manifests itself through impatience and the pursuit of shortcuts.

He cited fraud, the pursuit of fame at the expense of dignity and interference in other people’s relationships as examples of decisions people may make in their quest for quick rewards.

“What comes quick, goes quick,” he stated.

Using farming as an illustration, he said a wise person understands that crops require time to grow, while a foolish person expects to plant cassava and harvest it on the same day.

 They talk too much

The third behaviour he highlighted was excessive talking.

Ras Caleb warned that some people destroy themselves by failing to control what they say, particularly when discussing confidential matters, personal relationships, plans and the people who have supported them.

He referenced the biblical teaching that even a fool can appear wise when he remains silent, arguing that an inability to control one’s speech can eventually become destructive.

Ras Caleb said the current generation has unprecedented access to information but continues to struggle with applying knowledge responsibly.

He observed that people now have access to data, Google, religious leaders and teachers, yet knowledge alone has not necessarily translated into wisdom.

“We have information but no wisdom. We have data but no depth. We have Google but no guidance.”

He argued that the major problem is not necessarily a lack of knowledge, but the failure to apply what people already know.

Ras Caleb outlined several qualities he believes demonstrate genuine wisdom.

According to him, wisdom means:

Fearing God and departing from evil.

Accepting that one does not know everything.

Listening more and speaking less.

Saving and planning instead of spending recklessly.

Forgiving rather than constantly seeking revenge.

Building for future generations rather than living only for oneself.

To illustrate the importance of thinking beyond one’s immediate circumstances, Ras Caleb cited Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, and the construction of the Akosombo Dam.

He argued that Nkrumah’s decision to invest in infrastructure that would benefit generations demonstrates the importance of long-term thinking.

“Kwame Nkrumah had wisdom. That is why he built Akosombo for generations he would never see,” he said, contrasting this with what he described as the foolish tendency to consume everything for immediate gratification.

Ras Caleb concluded his reflection with a direct appeal to young Africans to make wisdom a priority.

He urged young people not to pursue only money, connections, followers, beauty or power, warning that these things can become destructive when they are not accompanied by wisdom.

He argued that money without wisdom can be lost, beauty without wisdom can be abused, power without wisdom can be misused, and religious anointing without wisdom can result in scandal.

According to him, wisdom, on the other hand, can preserve, promote and give direction to a person’s life.

He ended with a call for people to learn from the wisdom available around them rather than allowing pride, impatience and rejection of correction to destroy their potential.

“The fool dies. But the wise lives and his works follow him.”