Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, has instructed the Director General of Ghana Education Service (GES) to make the use of teaching in the Ghanaian Language or mother tongue compulsory at the basic level.
The Education Minister explained that the move is aimed at improving learning outcomes and comprehension among pupils at the basic level.
Speaking in the presence of President John Mahana and the GES Director-General, Haruna Iddrisu stated, “Mr President, the story is told of a young girl whose teacher, somewhere in the Ashanti Region, went in and was waxing English, teaching at the early stages of development. Then the child told the teacher that, ‘3y3 a, ka Twi, kakra na mente ase3’ which translates to: ‘Please speak a little Twi, because I don’t understand’”.
He further narrated, “So, Mr President, in line with that and with your authority, I’m directing the Director General of the Ghana Education Service and the GES that from today, teacher use of mother tongue instruction is now compulsory in all Ghanaian schools” his directive was met with loud cheers from the ground gathered.
He emphasised that the GES must ensure the strict enforcement of this directive.
“The GES is to ensure strict enforcement of this because that child, that Ghanaian child, was not born into an English family, but a proud Asante Akan family and deserves to learn,” he added.
Meanwhile, some Ghanaians have reacted to Haruna Iddrisu’s directives, saying, “What happens when children in the class have different Mother Tongues? Also, what exactly is “Ghanaian Language”? There are several government-sponsored Ghanaian Languages; which of these is to be used as the “Ghanaian Language”?”
“It can only work if they first look at the structure of posting Teachers. You’re posting Teachers to Villages and communities where they can’t speak their L1, what do you expect of this?”, another netizen added.
One more Ghanaian wrote, “I think compulsory is wrong and is short-sighted thinking. It should be acceptable. The world we live in doesn’t care or mind that you can’t speak the world’s de facto language properly. You will miss out on so many things, even in the class to begin with.
Many concepts in our world in fields like science, technology, business, and government are non-existent in our local languages. Unfortunately, not much can be done about it today to improve our language.
So, it rather should be that, our local languages were acceptable in school, and could be used without punishment or prejudice where necessary. Compulsory will bring all sorts of unforeseen problems”.
In related news, Haruna Iddrisu has shut down social media debate regarding Senior High School (SHS) students cutting their long hair before reporting to school.
The Education Minister boldly declared, they will not tolerate long hair today or tomorrow in SHS.
He highlighted that if long hairs are accepted in schools, tomorrow it will be shoes the next day the uniforms students wear in SHS.
Speaking to patrons of the 75th anniversary of Mawuli School in the Volta Region, Haruna Iddrisu stated, “There is an ongoing debate on social media about haircuts and the size and length of hair in secondary school.
We will not tolerate it today; we will not tolerate it tomorrow in so long as we are moulding character. If we give in to hair today, tomorrow it will be shoes, and the next day it will be the way they dress”.
He added, “Therefore, as part of our disciplinary measures, headmasters and GES, you are therefore empowered to take full control of how students behave on your campuses.
Anybody who thinks your child will walk into any institution of learning as if that child forgive my words—were to attend a beauty contest, the school environment is not for that purpose and is not cut for that purpose and will not tolerate that as an institution,” he stated.
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— Ghana Chronicles (@_GhChronicles) October 24, 2025
Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu has instructed the Director General of GES to make the use of teaching with Ghanaian Language or Mother Tongue compulsory at the Basic level.
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