La Adonten Mantse Nii Kwade Okropong I has donated GHS 10,000 to Advocates for GaDangme Languages (AGDLa) – a non-profit organisation – to support seven young SHS graduates to study Ga and Dangme languages at the tertiary level. The move is to enhance teaching and learning of Ga and Dangme languages in the basic schools as well as equip Ga and Dangme teachers with the requisite competencies: knowledge, skills, attitude and experiences, in learning and teaching of the languages.

Speaking after the donation, the La Adonten Mantse, stated that it is of utmost importance for the capacity of Ga and Dangme teachers to be built to improve teaching and learning strategies of the languages in the Greater Accra Region. He called on fellow Ga and Dangme Chiefs and philanthropists to support the Advocates for GaDangme Languages to achieve its goals of sustaining and promoting the Ga and Dangme languages in Ghana.

On his part, the founder and coordinator of Advocates for GaDangme Languages Mr. John Mensah Anang (Nii Mensah Anang-Yakah), the immediate past Director-General of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, revealed that there is a significant number of Ga-Dangme teachers but there is a lack of willingness and readiness to teach Ga in schools. Most of us do not understand the chemistry of the school system hence we make unfounded accusations and play the blame game – instead of coming out with innovative ideas and best practices to help solve this problem scientifically. He reiterated the need for well-meaning Ga-Dangme natives to team up with AGDLa and fight this knowledge war by getting more SHS graduates who are willing to study and teach the Ga and Dangme Languages at the pre-tertiary level. This he said would help sustain and protect the Ga and Dangme Languages in the Greater Accra region.

A very good example is Valley View where a school decided not to teach Ga due to lack of teachers; thus, they are compelled to make that difficult but necessary decision. The support of seven young people to study Ga and Dangme languages at the tertiary level will encourage those who wish to project and protect the Ga and Dangme Languages the opportunity to contribute their quota to the Ga state. Most of the schools in the Greater Accra region, according to him lack Ga and Dangme Language teachers, yet students are expected to write Ga or Dangme at the BECE level.

Source: WadataOnline.com/Muhammed Faisal Mustapha