The government is planning to develop a sustainable policy to formally recognise and promote the use of Ghanaian Sign Language (GSL) in Ghana’s education system.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu said the Ministry of Education would work with relevant stakeholders to develop and institutionalise the policy.
Speaking at a dialogue on “Strengthening Quality Multilingual Inclusive Education for Deaf Learners in Ghana” in Accra, Mr Iddrisu said GSL was central to deaf learners’ education, identity and participation in society.
“Ghanaian Sign Language is not simply a communication technique for many deaf Ghanaians; it is a language through which they express themselves, develop their identity and participate fully in society,” he said.
He said the proposed framework would be evidence-based, inclusive and aligned with Ghana’s constitutional, legal and international commitments.
It would cover the development and standardisation of GSL, teaching and learning materials, the training of sign language teachers and interpreters, accessible assessment, and approaches to improve learning outcomes for deaf learners.
Mr Iddrisu stressed that recognising GSL must lead to better educational opportunities rather than remain a policy declaration.
He also highlighted the importance of multilingual education, saying deaf learners should be supported to develop strong foundations in GSL while acquiring literacy in written English and other languages relevant to their education and communities.
“For deaf learners, multilingualism should recognise the role of Ghanaian Sign Language alongside written and spoken languages encountered in school and society,” he said.
The Minister said the success of inclusive education should not be measured only by the number of learners with disabilities enrolled in school, but by whether they are gaining literacy, numeracy and digital skills and progressing through the education system.
