By Maltiti Sayida Sadick
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to integrating Ghana’s indigenous languages into the national education system, describing language as central to culture and identity.
He made the remarks during a courtesy call on the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the overlord of the Ga Traditional Area, amid growing national discussions on artificial intelligence and language representation, including recent engagements with Google AI.
Speaking at the palace, Mr Iddrisu said the visit was his first official courtesy call since assuming office and assured the traditional ruler that Ghana’s education system would remain firmly rooted in the country’s cultural heritage.
“It would be unthinkable for me, as Minister for Education, to preside over a system where our education does not reflect the culture of our people,” he said. “Language is at the centre of every culture, and under my supervision, the use of our indigenous languages in education will not be neglected.”
While acknowledging that English remains Ghana’s official language, the minister stressed the importance of promoting local languages alongside it, particularly to improve learning outcomes in early education.
Mr Iddrisu announced plans to convene a National Indigenous Languages Conference on Education before the end of March, adding that the Ga Mantse would be invited to chair the event. He also said veteran journalist and social commentator Kwesi Pratt would be invited to present on the integration of local languages into formal education.
Citing research from Oxford University, the minister said studies consistently show that children learn more effectively when taught in their mother tongue, especially in their formative years.
On technology and innovation, Mr Iddrisu revealed that Google had initially piloted only three Ghanaian languages in its AI language initiatives. He said the ministry had formally engaged the company to include Ga-Adangme as a fourth language, with plans to expand coverage to all 12 approved Ghanaian indigenous languages, describing the move as both culturally necessary and forward-looking.
The education minister added that the initiative aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s broader vision of promoting multilingualism in education, including the expansion of sign language to improve inclusivity for persons with disabilities.
The Ga Mantse welcomed the assurances and commended the minister for recognising the role of traditional authority and culture in national development.
