UEW to Collaborate with Mamprugu Traditional Area to Preserve Language and Cultural Heritage
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has expressed willingness to collaborate with the Mamprugu Traditional Area to preserve and promote the Mampruli language, a crucial part of the cultural heritage of the Mamprusi people.
This development was revealed during a meeting at UEW’s Council Chamber on Monday, 9th September, 2024, where a delegation led by Chief Musah Adam Badimsugru-Ghanedaana, Paramount Chief of the Ghane Traditional Area, met with UEW management to discuss a potential partnership.
Chief Badimsugru-Ghanedaana, representing the Nayiri—the overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area—emphasised the urgency of protecting the Mampruli language, which he described as central to safeguarding the identity, history, and culture of the Mamprusi people. "If you do not preserve and protect your language, you are not protecting your culture and history," he asserted.
The delegation sought UEW's collaboration in developing a comprehensive Mampruli curriculum and establishing a dedicated department for Mamprugu studies, noting that without concerted efforts, the language and its associated cultural practices were at risk of fading out.
"We are at a critical juncture where our language and culture are at risk. Developing a curriculum and establishing a department dedicated to Mamprugu studies ensure that our traditions, values, and language are preserved for future generations,” Chief Badimsugru-Ghanedaana explained.
UEW’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, expressed the university’s strong support for the initiative, reaffirming UEW's commitment to promoting and preserving Ghanaian languages. "As the only institution mandated to train teachers in Ghana, we are eager to help," Prof. Mitchual said. He highlighted that the university’s Faculty of Ghanaian Languages Education would take the lead in handling the technical aspects of the collaboration.
“We accept your proposal and will discuss it further at the management level,” Prof. Mitchual added, stressing UEW's readiness to assist in the development of the Mampruli language.
Prof. Samuel Alhassan Issah, Dean of the Faculty of Ghanaian Languages Education at UEW, underscored the importance of preserving Mampruli. He noted the linguistic challenges Mampruli speakers face, particularly in the educational environments, and the need to acknowledge these differences. "Mampruli speakers have struggled with Dagbani, despite linguistic differences," Prof. Issah explained.
The proposed collaboration would lay the foundation for weaving Mampruli language, literature, history, and cultural practices into UEW’s academic offerings. Students would gain a comprehensive understanding of the Mamprugu heritage, ensuring that the language remains a vibrant and essential part of Ghana's cultural fabric.
As this initiative unfolds, it is poised to serve as a model for similar collaborations across the country, demonstrating how education can play a key role in preserving cultural identity. By prioritising the development of the Mampruli language, UEW and the Mamprugu Traditional Area are taking proactive steps toward safeguarding Ghana’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity.
This partnership represents a significant commitment to honouring and celebrating the unique heritage of the Mamprusi people, while also contributing to a broader national effort to preserve Ghanaian languages and cultural traditions for future generations.
