Dr Ekua Amoakoh, spokesperson for the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has strongly criticised the government’s revised basic school curriculum, describing the decision to adopt Ghanaian languages as the primary medium of instruction as a “knee-jerk and populist” move that threatens to reverse national progress.
Speaking as the guest speaker at the 21st graduation ceremony of The Hilltop School in Kumasi, where 88 Junior High School students graduated, Dr Amoakoh questioned the rationale behind replacing English with local Ghanaian languages from Kindergarten to Primary Three, alongside the introduction of Chinese into the school curriculum.
The policy shift follows a curriculum review conducted by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) under the Ministry of Education.
Dr Amoakoh argued that English remains the most universal language for global trade, academia, and professional advancement, adding that Ghana’s current English-based system gives local students and professionals a distinct advantage internationally.
She noted that Ghanaian academic certificates, such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and local university degrees, enjoy high international trust.
Ghanaian graduates seeking further studies or professional practice in countries like the United Kingdom and the United States are routinely exempted from writing standardised English proficiency examinations because the global community trusts Ghana’s English-medium instruction.
Addressing the practical hurdles of teaching technical subjects in indigenous languages, Dr Amoakoh questioned how specialised academic concepts, such as advanced mathematics and science, could be seamlessly translated.
She cautioned that educators would end up searching for local terms that do not currently exist, asking how concepts like algebra or multipliers could be accurately expressed in Twi.
While acknowledging the importance of preserving national identity and learning local languages alongside French, Dr Amoakoh maintained that indigenous languages should not replace English as the foundational medium of classroom instruction.
Dr Amoakoh also expressed scepticism regarding the government’s decision to introduce Chinese into the national basic curriculum.
While defending the study of French due to Ghana being geographically surrounded by Francophone neighbours – Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo – she questioned the justification for adding Chinese over other global languages.
She remarked that she could not understand the relevance of learning Chinese when most Chinese nationals speak English, questioning why Chinese was selected over alternatives like Russian and describing the move as an unthought-out populist measure.
Dr Amoakoh accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration of lacking commitment and competence in managing the country’s educational sector, citing past opposition to policies like the Free Senior High School initiative.
She urged Ghanaians to evaluate major policy shifts critically to ensure that national political interests do not supersede the overall development and global competitiveness of Ghanaian children.
For her part, the Proprietress of The Hilltop School, Mrs Cecilia Agyei-Amoako, called on the government to abolish the 30 per cent quota placement for public school candidates sitting the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to create a level playing field with private schools.
Commenting on the revised curriculum, which recommends Ghanaian language as the primary medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Primary Three, she expressed concern that it might pose challenges since many parents prefer their children not to be instructed in Ghanaian languages.
She also expressed the view that the introduction of the Chinese language by the government should be optional for students, so that those who wish to learn it can do so, rather than making it compulsory.
Have a news tip or a correction regarding this story? Reach out to our editorial desk at newshubgh2026@gmail.com or contact us on 0245975627.