Professor Samuel Atintonu. Image Source: Accra College of Education SRC (Facebook)
The 8th Principal of Accra College of Education, Professor Samuel Awinkene Atintonu, has revealed that the Chinese government is doing anything in her power to train teachers in Ghanaian languages. He revealed this during his keynote address speech at the University of Edcation, Winneba – Ajumako Campus on the 18th July, 2024.
In his speech, he revealed that the Chinese government is actively working to train teachers in Ghanaian languages. This initiative has sparked mixed reactions among Ghanaians, with some viewing it as a positive step toward cultural exchange and linguistic development, while others perceive potential negative implications.
The grand durbar of the Cultural Week Celebration was a vibrant showcase of Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, featuring traditional music, dance, and performances. Professor Samuel Awinkene Atintonu’s revelation about the Chinese government’s efforts to train teachers in Ghanaian languages sparked mixed reactions from attendees, including lecturers and invited guests. The most prominent sentiment among the audience was in the question: “Why should we sit back and allow China to recognize the value of our languages and take the initiative to develop them for us?”
During the durbar, this is what he said about China’s interest in training teachers in Ghanaian languages:
Interestingly, there is a sudden high interest in the study of Chinese in Ghana.Universities are in stiff competition to establish professional centers, with the support of the Chinese government, to develop degree programs in Chinese. You can see this at Cape Coast [University of Cape Coast], the University of Ghana, Legon, and Tech [Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology], among others. Even the colleges of education are involved. Just last week, I was contacted about China’s interest in training teachers in Ghanaian languages”.
The Cultural Week Celebration at the University of Education, Winneba – Ajumako Campus, continues to be a vibrant event that not only celebrates Ghana’s cultural diversity but also serves as a platform for discussing innovative language education initiatives. This year’s edition, held from Monday, 15th July to Friday, 19th July, was themed “Promoting Ghanaian Languages in Education: A Catalyst for Enhancing Intercultural Relations and National Development.”
Author: Ebenezer Kobinah Offen
Editor: Ama Gyesiwaa Quansah
