UEW Supports Integration of Ahanta Language into Ghana's School Curriculum
The Management of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has pledged its full commitment to supporting efforts spearheaded by Hon. Mavis Kuukua Bissue, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ahanta West, to formalise the teaching of the Ahanta language in Ghanaian schools.
The University Management gave this assurance when a six-member delegation representing Hon. Mavis Kuukua Bissue, paid a courtesy call on the Management of UEW, on Monday, 28th July 2025, to advance ongoing discussions on mainstreaming the Ahanta language in Ghana’s educational system.
Mr. Justice Baidoo, a member of the committee formed by the MP, spoke on the MP’s commitment to promoting the teaching of Ahanta in schools and the formation of a committee comprising representatives from the Ghana Education Service, traditional councils and religious organisations to lay the groundwork for this goal. He noted that the team’s visit to UEW is a formal step towards seeking institutional collaboration to achieve this vision.
Nana Eziaku IV, a representative of the Ahanta Traditional Council, commended the university for its readiness to engage with the community and emphasised the importance of this initiative to cultural sustainability. “We are prepared with resources such as the Ahanta Bible and books already written in Ahanta. Partnering with UEW is the surest path to seeing this become part of Ghana’s formal education system,” he said.
Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor of UEW, lauded the effort as timely and in alignment with UEW’s national development mandate. Drawing on his personal ties to the Ahanta region, he stressed the value of indigenous language in foundational learning and curriculum relevance.
Prof. Mitchual emphasised that children comprehend concepts faster when taught in their mother tongues, citing international examples from Russia and the Arab world. However, he noted that UEW, as a public university, must undertake feasibility studies to ensure sustainability, given the resource implications and governmental requirements for staff recruitment.
Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah, Acting Registrar of UEW, reaffirmed the university’s commitment, stating, “We are grateful for the confidence reposed in UEW and we will ensure that our experts are brought on board to support this laudable initiative.”
Prof. Samuel Alhassan Issah, Dean of the Faculty of Ghanaian Languages Education, echoed similar sentiments, noting that while the faculty is fully supportive of the initiative, past experiences call for careful consideration for sustainability. “We want to be sure that the interest is sustained so that the university’s investment in infrastructure and human resource will be justified,” he said.
Prof. Issah added that the faculty is ready to admit students once there is consistent interest and a clear commitment from the community.
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve between UEW and the delegation to deepen engagement and initiate concrete steps towards piloting the teaching of Ahanta in schools, with emphasis on human resource development and long-term sustainability.
