From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor
(ikansto2012@gmail.com)
The Assembly Member for Awukugua Electoral Area in the Akuapem North Municipality, Kwabi Frank, popularly known in media circles as Kwaku Dawuro, has accused the Ghana Education Service (GES) of distorting the Akuapem Twi language.
According to the political talk show host of Emak FM, a local private radio station, allowing Asante teachers to teach Akuapem Twi in their various schools has twisted the Akuapem Language. He explained that these teachers are not conversant with the language, hence cannot apply it appropriately.
This development, according to the Awukugua Assembly Member, has corrupted and mis-shaped the language. Kwabi was addressing the media on Thursday, after donating exercise books, reading books and 40 pieces of Friday wear polo shirts and T-shirts to the Awukugua Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Junior High School.
Acknowledging a directive by the Education Minister, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who has asked heads and teachers of basic schools to desist from the use of the English Language as the sole medium of instruction in the classrooms, he called on the GES to have a second look at the situation.
He continued that the directive of the Minister of Education for heads of basic schools to desist introducing English Language too early was making it difficult to prepare students adequately for higher academic learning.
Kwabi, therefore, urged teachers to use the local languages as the medium of instruction in the classroom, and gradually introduce the English Language after the local language had been fully developed.
But, introducing children to Asante Twi at school, and speaking Akuapem twi at home, confuses the children, hence he called on the chiefs and elders of Akuapem to stand against posting Asantes to Akuapem areas to teach Akuapem Twi.