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Why Ghana Must Decolonize Its Classrooms: Stakeholders Push for National Program to Strengthen Local Languages

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Across Africa, the language of education remains a legacy of colonialism. In Ghana, academics and language experts are now demanding a decisive break from that past.

They are calling on the government to establish a national terminology program to develop standardized vocabularies for the country’s indigenous languages.

The push is part of discussions for International Mother Language Day, observed annually on February 21, and reflects a growing continental movement to reclaim linguistic sovereignty and ensure that millions of learners are not left behind by foreign-dominated education systems.

‘If You Cannot Access Knowledge in Your Own Language, You Are Not Free’

At a workshop and public lecture organized by the Department of Ghanaian Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Clement Kwamena Appah, Principal of the Accra City Campus of the University of Ghana, delivered a stark message: Ghana remains intellectually colonized because its people cannot fully participate in knowledge creation in their own tongues.

“The people and teachers of the languages we teach who don’t speak English are not participating in knowledge creation,” Prof. Appah said. “If you don’t have the capacity to think, practice, read, and access knowledge in your own language, then you lack linguistic sovereignty.”

He argued that developing standardized terminologies for Ghanaian languages would demystify complex concepts currently taught exclusively in foreign languages, removing a fundamental barrier to learning and innovation.

A Model for Language Preservation

Ghana is home to over 80 languages, with government-sponsored languages including Akan, Ewe, Ga, and Dagbani. Yet, English remains the official medium of instruction from primary school through university—a pattern repeated across much of sub-Saharan Africa.

Prof. Appah noted that while Ghana has the human, linguistic, and institutional resources to develop its languages, progress is obstructed by inadequate funding. He proposed a government-sponsored national terminology programme and register to streamline the development and dissemination of new vocabularies, with support from institutions such as the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Ghana National Research Fund, and GETFund.

Global Parallels, Local Urgency

The call echoes similar movements worldwide, from New Zealand’s efforts to revitalize Te Reo Māori to Ireland’s promotion of Gaelic and Wales’s support for the Welsh language. In each case, language preservation is understood not as nostalgia, but as a prerequisite for cultural continuity and educational equity.

Dr. Vincent Erskine Aziaku, Head of the Department of Ghanaian Languages and Linguistics at UCC, framed the issue in stark terms: “The problem has been the lack of terminologies. Terminology development is the only way we can succeed in having our language.”

Standardization and the Role of Technology

Dr. Samuel Owoahene Acheampong from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), stressed the need for standardization to ensure coherence and consistency. He urged the government to establish a council to verify terminologies and prevent contradictory content from different authors.

Mr. Scoon Boakye Appiah, Founder and CEO of education technology company AyaPrep, called on stakeholders to leverage digital tools to promote Ghanaian languages in teaching and learning, suggesting that technology could accelerate the adoption of new terminologies and make them accessible to a generation of digital natives.

A Gathering of Minds

The workshop and lecture brought together students from 21 colleges of education, graduate students from several universities, traditional leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers—a reflection of the broad interest in ensuring that Ghanaian languages survive and thrive in the modern world.

Prof. Appah also proposed reforms in teacher education and assessment to ensure that new terminologies are promptly adopted in classrooms, warning that without integration into the educational system, even the best-developed vocabularies would remain unused.

Mother Language Day as a Global Reminder

International Mother Language Day, proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and first observed in 2000, commemorates the struggle for linguistic diversity and the right to learn in one’s own language. It was inspired by the 1952 Bengali Language Movement in Bangladesh, where students were killed while demonstrating for recognition of their mother tongue.

As Ghana joins the global observance, the message from Cape Coast is clear: language is not just a tool for communication—it is the foundation of thought, identity, and development. And without deliberate investment, even the most vibrant languages risk being silenced in the classrooms where the next generation is shaped.

Ghana News

MTN Ghana Reveals Massive Fiber Cable Sabotage Crisis Disrupting 157 Network Sites

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Accra, Ghana – MTN Ghana’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Blewett has raised serious concerns about the escalating wave of fiber-optic cable sabotage and damage, revealing that recent incidents have knocked 157 network sites offline and severely degraded service for millions of customers across the country.

Speaking at the MTN Ghana Accra Media and Stakeholder Forum on April 17, 2026, Blewett described fiber cuts as one of the biggest operational challenges currently facing the company.

He explained that because fiber cables serve as the critical backbone linking multiple cell towers to the core network, a single cut — often caused by road construction or deliberate theft — can trigger widespread connectivity failures across entire suburbs and commercial areas.

“It’s not really just talking about cutting fiber to someone’s home,” he said. “When you cut fiber, you bring down all those sites, and that’s problematic.”

The disruptions are driven by two main factors: uncoordinated road expansion works and acts of vandalism or theft. Blewett noted that such incidents are not minor inconveniences but major threats to reliability, affecting businesses, hospitals, emergency services, and everyday users.

Despite MTN’s heavy investment in 4G and 5G infrastructure, the physical vulnerability of the fiber network continues to undermine service quality.

The CEO called for fiber-optic cables to be classified as Critical National Infrastructure to impose stricter legal penalties and urged better coordination between construction agencies and telecom operators.

As Ghana pushes its Digital Ghana agenda, analysts say resolving this “perennial headache” is essential for maintaining a robust and reliable digital economy.

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Ghana News

Woman Demands GH¢150,000 from UK ‘Borga’, MTN Reveals Massive Fiber Sabotage and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today

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We are bringing you the most relevant stories from Ghana today to keep you updated. Stories include an interesting dispute between a woman and her UK-based partner, revelations about major telecom infrastructure sabotage, health alerts on Mpox, and other key national developments.

Woman Demands GH¢150,000 from UK ‘Borga’ After He Allegedly Failed to Marry Her
Esther Latebia, a mother of two from Kasoa, is demanding GH¢150,000 in compensation from Mr Osei, a UK-based Ghanaian known locally as a “borga,” after he allegedly failed to honour his promise of marriage following a six-year romantic relationship conducted mainly through video calls. According to her account shared on Nhyira FM’s Obra Show, Mr Osei promised to build her a house, buy her a taxi for work, waive her rent until the house was completed, and support her two children until they completed tertiary education or found jobs. He also promised to marry her as his second wife. After six years, he reportedly changed his mind and withdrew all commitments, leaving her feeling used and seeking redress.
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A Muslim Woman’s Vision of the Second Coming of Jesus: A 30-Year Burden Finally Told
A 69-year-old Muslim woman from Ghana has finally shared a powerful spiritual vision she received in the 1990s about the second coming of Jesus Christ, a 30-year secret she kept due to fear, community pressure, and misunderstanding from both Muslims and Christians. In the vision, she stood in a massive global market where people were trading gold, diamonds, and engaging in various activities when a divine presence behind her instructed her to tell the world that “Jesus Christ is coming — very soon.” Despite the urgent message echoing across the market, no one seemed to notice or listen. The experience left her in uncontrollable tears the next morning, leading to years of isolation as she struggled to understand why, as a Muslim, she would receive such a message.
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157 Sites Disrupted – MTN CEO Reveals Massive Scale of Fibre Cable Sabotage
MTN Ghana CEO Stephen Blewett has revealed that recent fibre-optic cable sabotage has knocked 157 network sites offline, causing widespread connectivity failures across multiple suburbs and affecting millions of customers. Speaking at the MTN Ghana Accra Media and Stakeholder Forum on April 17, 2026, he described fibre cuts — caused by uncoordinated road construction and deliberate theft or vandalism — as a “serious threat” to seamless service delivery. The interconnected nature of the infrastructure means a single cut can bring down numerous cell towers, disrupting businesses, hospitals, and emergency services. MTN is advocating for fibre-optic cables to be classified as “Critical National Infrastructure” to impose stricter penalties and is calling for better coordination of construction schedules.
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CHASS Warns Schools May Shut Down Over Free SHS Feeding Crisis
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has warned that many Senior High Schools could be forced to shut down if the current crisis in the Free SHS feeding programme is not urgently addressed. School heads report severe delays in the release of feeding grants, leaving them unable to provide meals for students and forcing some schools to rely on credit from suppliers. The situation has created significant operational challenges and raised concerns about the sustainability of the flagship education policy. CHASS is calling on the government to release outstanding funds immediately to prevent further disruption to academic activities.
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Ghana’s NTEs Hit $5.006 Billion in 2025
Ghana’s Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) reached a record $5.006 billion in 2025, representing a more than 30% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare. Launching the 2025 Ghana Export Promotion Authority report in Accra, the minister described the growth as strong evidence that the country’s export diversification agenda is gaining momentum. NTEs now account for about 16% of Ghana’s total export earnings, signalling a gradual shift away from heavy dependence on traditional commodities like gold, oil, and cocoa. The government continues to support exporters through improved production capacity, quality standards, and access to finance via the Ghana EXIM Bank.
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Vice President Opoku-Agyemang in Spain to Participate in Fourth High-Level Meeting
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has arrived in Barcelona, Spain, to participate in the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the Initiative “In Defence of Democracy.” She was received by members of the Ghanaian community in Spain, led by Ghana’s Ambassador to Spain, Madam Kalsoume Sinare Baffoe. The Vice President is expected to join global leaders in high-level discussions focused on strengthening democratic governance and advancing collective efforts to safeguard democratic values worldwide.
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Ghana Health Service Confirms Over 1,000 Cases of Mpox
The Ghana Health Service has confirmed four new cases of Mpox, bringing the national total to 1,062 as of April 11, 2026. No new hospital admissions have been recorded, while the death toll remains at eight. Surveillance is ongoing across all 16 regions, with health teams actively monitoring to prevent further spread. Mpox is transmitted mainly through close physical contact, and the public has been advised to maintain strict hygiene, avoid contact with unusual rashes, and seek early medical care for flu-like symptoms.
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Ghana to Open New Embassy in Singapore in Bid To Strengthen Trade Ties with Asia

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Accra, Ghana – The Government of Ghana has formally initiated high-level diplomatic engagements with Singapore to establish a permanent embassy in the Asian financial and technology hub, marking a strategic expansion of its global diplomatic presence.

The announcement follows a working visit by a Ghanaian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs James Gyakye Quayson to Singapore from April 10 to 15, 2026.

During discussions with Singapore’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Development, Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Ghana officially conveyed its intention to open a resident mission.

The proposed embassy aims to enhance consular services for Ghanaian nationals, facilitate trade and investment flows, and deepen institutional cooperation in technology, capacity building, and economic development.

This move forms part of a broader foreign policy drive by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish new diplomatic missions and permanent chanceries in strategic locations, while reducing heavy reliance on rented premises that currently cost the state around $15 million annually.

Earlier commitments outlined at the 2025 Conference of Heads of Mission include opening missions in Massachusetts (USA), Dublin (Ireland), Lisbon (Portugal), and Singapore by 2026. Recent developments under this agenda include the opening of a new chancery in Ethiopia in February and planned missions in Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Serbia, and Hungary.

Singaporean authorities welcomed the proposal and expressed strong commitment to expanding bilateral ties with Ghana. Officials from both sides see the new mission as a platform to boost South-South cooperation and tap into Asia’s dynamic economic opportunities.

The establishment of the embassy is expected to be completed within the government’s 2026 diplomatic expansion timeline.

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