Mother Tongue Instruction Now Mandatory in All Ghanaian Schools – Education Minister Declares
The Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has officially directed that the use of Ghanaian local languages as the medium of instruction be made compulsory in every school across the nation.
Speaking during the launch of the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities Initiative held in Accra, Mr. Iddrisu announced a decisive policy shift aimed at strengthening cultural identity and improving learning outcomes among Ghanaian children.
He instructed the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure the immediate and full implementation of this directive. “From today onwards, it is mandatory for teachers to use the mother tongue in classroom instruction across all Ghanaian schools,” the Minister stated firmly. “The GES must guarantee strict compliance with this new order. A Ghanaian child is not born into an English household but into a proud Ghanaian family—be it Ashanti, Akan, Ewe, or any other—and deserves to be educated in that language.”
According to the Minister, this initiative aligns with President John Mahama’s “Reset Agenda,” which seeks to revive Ghana’s cultural pride, strengthen national unity, and reshape the education system to meet the country’s social and developmental goals.
Mr. Iddrisu stressed that the use of the mother tongue in early education enhances comprehension, builds confidence, and fosters a sense of identity among pupils. He noted that Ghana’s multilingual heritage should be celebrated, not sidelined, in the nation’s educational framework.
The new policy marks a significant shift from previous practices that placed heavy emphasis on English as the sole medium of instruction. It signals a renewed effort by the government to blend cultural preservation with academic excellence.
In conclusion, the Education Minister reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring that every Ghanaian child receives quality education rooted in their cultural background and linguistic heritage. The directive, he noted, is not only a policy reform but also a step toward reclaiming Ghana’s educational independence and nurturing a generation proud of their origins.
