Participants at the first School of Languages Conference

The School of Languages, University of Ghana, in collaboration with the Language Centre and the Central University College held a three-day conference from the 27^th to 29^th of October 2015 at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Affairs, University of Ghana. The conference, which was on the theme Multilingualism in the African Context: Resource or Challenge? also featured a colloquium on the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction in schools in contemporary Ghana. It was the first since the School of Languages was created in the 2013/2014 academic year, and it brought together over 200 language scholars from many tertiary institutions in the country as well as 12 other countries in various parts of Africa, Europe and North America.

The Dean of the School of Languages, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo delivering the welcome address

In her welcome address at the opening ceremony, the Dean of the School of Languages, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo noted that multilingualism is part of what defines the African continent, hence the need to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities it brings to our continent. She lauded the role of the Language Centre and the Central University College in the organisation of the conference.

The President of Central University College, Professor Kwesi Yankah, addressing participants

The president of the Central University College and former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Kwesi Yankah traced the history of collaboration between the Central University College and the University of Ghana, and assured all of his determination to deepen the collaboration. He expressed delight in the fact that a few months after the conference organising committee chose the use of mother tongue in education as a theme for its colloquium, the Minister of Education triggered a debate with her expression of the government’s determination to strengthen the policy on the use of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction. This coincidence, he noted, made the colloquium all the more relevant.

From left to right, Professor Nana Aba Amfo, Dean of the School of Languages; Professor Tope Omoniyi, Keynote Speaker; and Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah Provost of the College of Humanities

The theme of the conference was addressed in a keynote address by Professor Tope Omoniyi, a professor of sociolinguistics from Roehampton University, UK and a UG-Carnegie African Diasporan Fellow. He noted that contrary to popular belief, multilingualism in Africa is a resource, not a problem, adding that while Africa only has one-seventh of the world’s population, the over 2000 languages spoken on the continent makes it home to one-third of the world’s languages. This gives Africans a comparative advantage, given the crucial role of language in development. The challenge faced by Africans is how to harness that resource for greater integration and development.

From felt to right, Dr. Gordon Adika, Director of the Language Centre and Professor Kwesi Yankah, President of Central University College

The colloquium on the language of education brought together all stakeholders in education, including academics, educationists, policy experts and parents to deliberate on Ghana’s mother tongue policy in schools and to assess its relevance to our educational system. Discussants agreed on the relevance of the policy and underscored the need to take measures to address the challenges bedevilling the policy. They also emphasised the need to make the policy more inclusive by embracing more Ghanaian languages and making room for the use of more than one language within schools in multilingual urban areas.

Over 100 parallel and two plenary presentations were made during the three-day conference, touching on all aspects of language and literature including language in multilingual settings, language teaching and learning, language in education, language policy and planning and language use in various domains such as politics, business and religion.

From left to right, the Dean of the School of Languages, Professor Nana Aba A. Amfo, The President of Central University College, Professor Kwesi Yankah, The Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, the Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic and Student Affairs), Professor Kwame Offei and the Provost of the College of Humanities, Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah

The closing ceremony was witnessed by the Minister of Education, the Honourable Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, who gave a brief statement on the language of education policy.

Watch "Hon. Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang Responds to Language in Education Controversy" on YouTube - https://youtu.be/TPaYs6C1lOE

Professor Kwame Offei addressing the audience

The ceremony was chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs Professor Kwame Offei.

The Director of the Language Centre, Dr. Gordon Adika, addressing the audience

Provost of the College of Humanities, Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah, addressing the audience

Also present at both the opening and closing ceremonies were the Provost of the College of Humanities, Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah and the Director of the Language Centre Dr. Gordon Adika.

Nana Asaase, a poet, presenting a performance at the opening ceremony

A cross-section of students and faculty of the School of Languages at the conference