A prominent Ga traditional leader and economist has sharply criticized the Ministry of Education for excluding the Ga language from the initial pilot phase of an AI-powered educational tool, calling the decision a “terrible mistake” that reflects ongoing neglect of the indigenous language of Greater Accra.
George Haldane Lutterodt, a member of the Takie Commey wing of the Ga Paramount Stool Dzase, expressed frustration that only three Ghanaian languages—Twi, Ewe, and Dagbani—were selected for the pilot programme, reportedly developed in partnership with Google. Ga, spoken by millions in the capital region, was notably omitted.
In an interview, Lutterodt argued that the exclusion risks marginalizing a major local language at a time when AI tools are increasingly vital to education and future opportunities. “What the minister and the ministry did was a terrible mistake. It should never have happened,” he stated.
He highlighted broader issues, including chronic shortages of qualified Ga language teachers in schools and the frequent prioritization of other languages in official communications and public announcements in Accra. Comparing the situation to “might is right,” Lutterodt asked how Ghanaians would react if larger African nations like Nigeria, Egypt, or Kenya excluded Ghana from a continental initiative based on population size. “That is exactly how they are treating the indigenes,” he said.
Lutterodt accused authorities, municipal bodies, and even churches in Greater Accra of favoring other languages to accommodate non-indigenes, contributing to the gradual erosion of Ga. He commended former presidents Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Jerry John Rawlings for promoting Ga alongside other local languages and urged current leaders to follow suit.
Warning of growing public anger, he appealed directly to the President to intervene, stating, “The people are angry. People are very, very angry.” He called on Ga communities to unite, adding, “Unite or perish. There is no other choice.”
Lutterodt dismissed the Ministry of Education’s recent clarifying statement as “hollow and feeble,” describing it as an inadequate bureaucratic response to an issue of profound importance to millions of Ga-Dangme people.
The GaDangme Council has echoed these concerns, labeling the initial exclusion as unfair.
In its statement over the weekend, the Ministry emphasized that Ga and Adangbe (Dangme) have not been permanently excluded. It explained that the pilot phase, which tests the tool’s effectiveness, adaptability, and educational impact in four selected languages, is temporary and designed to guide a full nationwide rollout.
“The pilot phase is intended to test the effectiveness… before a nationwide rollout,” the Ministry said, assuring that a successful evaluation will expand the programme to cover all 12 approved Ghanaian languages, including Ga and Adangbe. It stressed that the initiative is not meant to marginalize any linguistic or cultural group and reaffirmed its commitment to inclusivity.
The AI programme seeks to enhance access to digital learning through speech recognition and educational content in local languages.
As the debate continues, stakeholders have urged open dialogue to address sensitivities surrounding linguistic diversity and ensure equitable inclusion of all Ghanaian languages in the nation’s digital education efforts.
