Interim Associate Vice President of Indigenous Research at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dr. Paul Adjei, has called for intentional investment in Ghana’s indigenous languages, emphasising their critical role in preserving traditional knowledge, identity, and cultural values.
Speaking on the Research and Innovation Agenda show, Dr. Adjei proposed that universities in Ghana revise their admissions criteria to include a local language requirement in addition to English, arguing that such a policy would elevate the status of indigenous languages in national life.
”We should stop treating our local languages as peripheral. The same value we place on English should be given to our indigenous languages. It should be a condition not just for school admission, but also for employment, and even becoming a Member of Parliament.”
He stressed that revitalising Ghanaian languages through formal recognition and practical use would foster deeper cultural connection and continuity, especially in passing down the wisdom of elders.
”If we want to tap into the teachings and knowledge of our elders, then we cannot abandon our languages. We must include them in the curriculum—not superficially, but meaningfully.”
Beyond language, he pointed to a deeper issue affecting Africa’s progress: an education system that prioritises credentials over practical relevance.
”The crisis of African development is also the crisis of education. We have focused too much on schooling rather than true education—one that equips people to function meaningfully in their own communities.”
He warned that many graduates find themselves disconnected from their society and unable to contribute locally because they are trained for systems and opportunities that don’t exist around them.
”Any education that doesn’t give us the skills—technical, emotional, and material—to operate within our communities is a form of miseducation.”
Dr. Adjei’s remarks come amid growing debates about the role of language and culture in shaping development models across Africa. His call reinforces the push for home-grown solutions that honour and build on local knowledge systems.
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Story by Michelle Lartey | univers.ug edu.gh
Edited by Kuuku Osei-Baidoo
