The Minister of Education (MoE) has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to strictly enforce the policy mandating the use of Ghanaian languages as the medium of instruction at the basic schools.
Speaking at the launch of the ‘Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities’ initiative, the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, stressed that the directive aims to ensure every basic school teacher uses the appropriate Ghanaian language in teaching.
The Minister’s remarks follow the recent announcement making mother-tongue instruction compulsory in all basic schools nationwide.
Addressing concerns about the pervasive use of English in classrooms, Iddrisu reiterated that GES must ensure teachers adopt local languages as the primary medium of instruction.
He explained that children learn best in languages they understand, and that beginning education solely in English places many at a disadvantage.
Haruna Iddrisu said “The story is told of a young girl whose teacher was teaching in English at an early stage, and the child struggled to understand. That child was not born into an English family but a proud Ghanaian family. Every Ghanaian child deserves to learn in a language they understand.”
Iddrisu further noted that the initiative aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s broader vision of promoting inclusivity and enhancing the quality of education in Ghana.
“President Mahama is fulfilling his promise of inclusivity and equal opportunity in education. His vision is to make learning meaningful for every Ghanaian child, regardless of background or ability,” he added.
The Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities programme was launched under the theme “Disability Not Inability: Advancing Inclusive Access to Higher Education Under the Reset Agenda.”
The event, held at the Accra College of Education on October 24, 2025, brought together several key figures, including Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu, Chief Executive Officer of the Students’ Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) Madam Saajida Shiraz, National President of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, Joseph Atsu Homadzi, and Deputy Minister for Agriculture, John Dumelo. The programme was organised under the auspices of the Students’ Loan Trust Fund.
The 1992 Constitution, under Article 39(3), mandates the State to ensure that the integration and development of Ghanaian languages are incorporated into national life.
Earlier, Mavis Kuukua Bissue, Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, while addressing Parliament on the urgent need to preserve, revive, and integrate the Ahanta language (Ayinda) into the formal education system, revealed that over 40 of Ghana’s indigenous languages are currently at risk of extinction.
