The Ghana Tourism Authority  (GTA) organised and supported a number of major tourism activities in 2025, but its financial statements show a weakening financial position, with declining assets, shrinking cash reserves and continued dependence on external funding.

The 2025 State Ownership Report lists several important events undertaken during the year, including Chocolate Day, Taste 68@68, Kwahu Paragliding, Panafest/Emancipation Day, World Tourism Day, the National Tourism Awards and December in GH.

Despite these activities, the Authority ended the year with GH¢58.26 million in total income and a net deficit of GH¢1 million.

The report’s key figures show that the GTA had GH¢14.07 million in total assets and GH¢9.19 million in total accumulated funds at the end of 2025.

It also recorded zero internally generated funds.

The GTA’s mandate is to regulate, supervise, promote and develop Ghana’s tourism industry.

It is responsible for ensuring sustainable tourism growth, licensing and monitoring tourism enterprises, maintaining industry standards, promoting tourist attractions, safeguarding consumers and collaborating with stakeholders to position Ghana as a leading tourism destination.

Its stated strategic intent is to promote the sustainable development of the tourism industry both within Ghana and internationally.

However, the financial report raises questions about the Authority’s ability to finance its operations independently.

The GTA generated no IGF in either 2024 or 2025.

At the same time, government grants fell dramatically from GH¢43.98 million to GH¢21.39 million.

Although other income increased to GH¢36.87 million, total income still fell by GH¢13.31 million, from GH¢71.57 million to GH¢58.26 million.

The Authority’s total expenditure dropped by 24.11%, from GH¢78.09 million in 2024 to GH¢59.26 million in 2025.

However, personnel expenditure increased by almost GH¢4.4 million, rising from GH¢29.25 million to GH¢33.64 million.

As a result, personnel costs accounted for 57.73% of total income in 2025, compared with 40.88% in 2024.

Service activity expenses, meanwhile, fell from GH¢36.60 million to GH¢12.17 million.

The report said the decline in expenditure was therefore primarily associated with reduced programme and service activities rather than improved efficiency.

The GTA’s cash position weakened considerably during the year.

Cash and cash equivalents declined from GH¢1.30 million to GH¢0.64 million, while operating cash flow moved from a positive GH¢3.84 million to negative GH¢0.06 million.

Total assets also fell by 10.84%, from GH¢15.78 million to GH¢14.07 million.

Total equity declined from GH¢10.19 million to GH¢9.19 million, while liabilities reduced from GH¢5.60 million to GH¢4.87 million.

The debt-to-asset ratio improved marginally from 0.36 to 0.35, suggesting that the Authority remains relatively lightly leveraged.

However, the report said its long-term stability is gradually weakening due to continuous deficits, declining accumulated funds, a shrinking asset base and the lack of internally generated revenue.

The report also states that the Ghana Tourism Authority did not report any quasi-fiscal activities for 2025.

It similarly reported no climate-smart investments during the year.

The Authority is currently headed by Maame Efua Houadjeto, while Gertrude Emefa Donkor serves as Chair of the Governing Board.

The board secretary is Stella Osei, with members including Maame Efua Houadjeto, Yusif Issaka Jajah, Kwame Adu Darko Okyere-Mensuo, Samuel Seth Passah, Joseph Osiakwan, Suweibatu Adam, Afi Amoro, Anthony Bart-Appiah, Bella Korkoe Ayayee Ahu and Darison Baba Al-Hassan. The report indicates the listed board appointments were made in August 2025.

The GTA’s auditors are TRC Consult Chartered Accountants.

The Authority operates under the GTA Act, 2011 (Act 817) and falls under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MOTAC)

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) recorded a significant decline in its total income in 2025, with revenue falling by 18.6% amid a sharp reduction in government funding.

According to the 2025 State Ownership Report, the Authority’s total income dropped from GH¢71.57 million in 2024 to GH¢58.26 million in 2025.

The report attributes the decline largely to a substantial reduction in Government of Ghana (GoG) grants, which fell from GH¢43.98 million in 2024 to GH¢21.39 million in 2025.

Although the Authority’s other income increased from GH¢27.59 million to GH¢36.87 million, the increase was not enough to compensate for the decline in government grants.

The report also revealed that the GTA recorded zero internally generated funds (IGF) in both 2024 and 2025.

This, according to the assessment, points to a structural weakness in the Authority’s ability to independently generate revenue and highlights its continued reliance on external funding sources.

The decline in income was accompanied by a reduction in total expenditure.

GTA’s total expenditure fell from GH¢78.09 million in 2024 to GH¢59.26 million in 2025, representing a 24.11% reduction.

The reduction was mainly driven by a sharp fall in service activity expenses, which declined from GH¢36.60 million to GH¢12.17 million.

However, personnel costs moved in the opposite direction, increasing from GH¢29.25 million to GH¢33.64 million.

The figures suggest that fixed personnel-related costs remained high despite the reduction in the Authority’s operational scale.

The GTA remained in deficit in both years, although the deficit narrowed from GH¢6.52 million in 2024 to GH¢0.99 million in 2025.

The report said the improvement was largely driven by expenditure cuts rather than growth in revenue.

The Authority’s net margin also improved from negative 9.12% in 2024 to negative 1.71% in 2025.

Despite this improvement, the report described the GTA as structurally loss-making and financially dependent on external funding.

The report further highlighted concerns over efficiency, noting that the personnel cost ratio increased from 40.88% of total income in 2024 to 57.73% in 2025.

This means salaries and related personnel costs consumed a substantially larger portion of the Authority’s income.

According to the report, the development suggests declining operational flexibility and worsening cost efficiency.

The GTA’s business model remains centred on the regulation and promotion of tourism enterprises, with its mandate covering the regulation, supervision, promotion and development of Ghana’s tourism industry.

The Authority was established under the Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817).

Its stated vision is to make Ghana a leading tourism destination in Africa through sustainable tourism development, while its mission is to promote, regulate and develop a sustainable and competitive tourism industry through innovation, partnerships, destination development and inclusive participation.

Residents of the Okere District in the Eastern Region have raised concerns over what they describe as years of persistent and unexplained power outages, despite the district’s proximity to the Akosombo power generation facility.

The concerns have been detailed by Seth Afum A. Dankwah of J. G. Knol Technical Institute, Adukrom-Akuapem, in an account highlighting the impact of prolonged power interruptions on households, schools, healthcare facilities, businesses, security and community activities.

According to Dankwah, he lived in Mampong-Akuapem in the Akuapem North District and commuted to work in the neighbouring Okere District from 2012 until the middle of 2026.

He said the experience exposed him to what he described as a “tale of two towns”, with Mampong often having electricity while Okere, only about 25 minutes away, remained in darkness.

Dankwah said he would frequently leave Mampong with electricity powering homes, radios and household activities, only to arrive in Adukrom and other parts of Okere where residents were experiencing complete power outages.

He has since relocated permanently to Okere and says the situation, which was previously a workplace inconvenience, has now become a daily reality affecting his home and community.

Dankwah said Okere’s electricity challenges did not begin in 2012 but had existed even before he started working in the district.

He argued that the problem had persisted through different governments, District Chief Executives and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) district managers, despite repeated promises to address the situation.

He described the persistent outages as having become a permanent feature of life in the district.

According to him, the situation is particularly difficult to understand because Okere is located less than 30 kilometres from Akosombo, where the Volta River is used to generate electricity for Ghana.

Dankwah said Okere District, which includes Adukrom, Abiriw, Dawu, Awukugua, Apirede, Abonse, Aseseeso and Asenema, is geographically close to the Akosombo power generation area.

He said he had been informed that the Adukrom Waterworks receives a dedicated high-tension electricity supply directly from the Akuse corridor through Adelakope and Akorley.

According to him, that line is frequently supplied with power even when large parts of Okere are without electricity.

He explained that the rest of the district, including homes, schools, health facilities and businesses, receives electricity from the Mampong Substation in the Akuapem North District.

Dankwah said Mampong is about 25 minutes away from Okere and questioned why electricity availability in Mampong does not translate into reliable supply for Okere.

He said residents have observed a recurring pattern in which Mampong, Akropong and Mamfe in Akuapem North, as well as Somanya and Odumase in the Krobo area, have electricity while Okere, located between these communities, remains in darkness.

“If your source has light and you who are fed from that source are in darkness, your problem is not generation from Akosombo,” he argued.

He suspects the challenge may instead be linked to local distribution infrastructure, including what he described as undersized and overloaded transformers and a weak, single feeder serving the Mampong-Okere area.

Dankwah noted that Adukrom became the capital of the Okere District in 2018 and has since experienced population growth, expansion of businesses and increased demand for electricity.

He believes the electricity infrastructure serving the district has not kept pace with this growth.

According to him, some transformers are unable to withstand increased demand and frequently trip, leaving communities without power.

He therefore called for a technical assessment of the electricity infrastructure serving Okere to determine the actual cause of the recurring outages.

The power crisis, according to Dankwah, is affecting education across the district.

He questioned how teachers can prepare lesson notes and other teaching materials at night when electricity is unavailable.

He also raised concerns about Junior High School and Senior High School students who require electricity for evening preparation, particularly those preparing for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Teachers, he said, struggle to charge phones and laptops, print worksheets, and carry out other activities requiring electricity.

He also pointed to the situation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teachers who sometimes have to teach computing without being able to power computers.

Dankwah said health facilities in Okere also bear the consequences of the outages.

He cited facilities in Adukrom, Abiriw and Aseseeso, saying they are forced to rely on generators whenever the power goes off.

He said the cost of fuel places additional pressure on health facilities that already operate with limited resources.

He also expressed concern about the possible impact of prolonged outages on vaccines and other medical supplies that require refrigeration.

According to him, night-time deliveries sometimes have to be conducted with torchlights, while laboratories may be unable to perform certain tests during power outages.

He further said patients requiring nebulisers and other electricity-dependent medical equipment could be placed in difficult situations when electricity supply is interrupted.

The persistent darkness also has implications for security, Dankwah said.

He mentioned police facilities at Adukrom, Okra Kwadwo and Amanfro as being affected by the outages.

He said the loss of street lighting leaves sections of the district capital in darkness and reduces visibility for security patrols.

According to him, the situation represents a security risk that residents have unfortunately become accustomed to.

Dankwah said the Okere District Assembly also suffers whenever electricity supply is interrupted.

He said the Assembly may be unable to print documents, maintain network connectivity or conduct normal administrative operations.

The Ghana Education Service office at Apirede and the Health Directorate at Dawu are also among the institutions he said are affected.

He further cited Okere Rural Bank, which he said frequently relies on a standby generator.

According to him, the cost of diesel for maintaining power at the bank adds significantly to its operating expenses.

He questioned how Okere can attract businesses and investors when basic electricity supply remains unreliable.

The outages, according to Dankwah, are also taking a financial toll on households.

He said the repeated switching on and off of electricity can damage refrigerators, televisions, microwaves, stabilisers and other electrical appliances.

He added that boarding schools, restaurants and market women who store frozen food also risk losing their goods when freezers remain without power for extended periods.

Families, he said, also struggle to iron school uniforms and use electric cookers to prepare meals when electricity is unavailable.

Some households, according to him, can point to burnt stabilisers, damaged televisions and other appliances which they believe were affected by the unstable supply.

He also complained about the lack of compensation for customers whose appliances are damaged.

Dankwah said the effects of the electricity crisis extend beyond economic and public services to Okere’s social and cultural life.

Churches holding Sunday services, Wednesday and Friday evening programmes, all-night services and crusades often have to rely on generators.

He said the cost of fuel increases the financial burden on churches, while generator noise can interfere with church programmes.

Funerals are also affected, he said, particularly because final funeral rites and family gatherings in Okere often continue into the night.

Without electricity, public address systems, microphones, lighting and other equipment may stop working, forcing bereaved families to spend additional money to hire generators.

Naming ceremonies, weddings, traditional engagements and other social events also face challenges when electricity is unavailable.

Dankwah said food stored for guests can spoil when freezers lose power, while traditional programmes and community gatherings may be disrupted.

He also mentioned traditional authorities and community activities, including Odwira celebrations, where palaces and durbars require electricity for lighting and other arrangements.

He said young people who could otherwise use the evenings for studies, vocational activities or other productive work are sometimes left idle because of the darkness.

“We are not just losing power; we are losing our community life, our togetherness, our culture,” he said.

Dankwah also drew attention to the different ECG arrangements involved in supplying electricity to the area.

He said ECG’s Tema Region, Krobo District in Somanya, controls the major high-tension supply serving the Waterworks, while ECG’s Eastern Region, Mampong District, bills and services domestic and commercial electricity from the Mampong feeder.

He provided the following contacts for the respective ECG operations: Krobo District in Somanya – 050 161 6351, and Mampong District – 020 516 4188.

According to him, this arrangement means that when the Mampong-Okere feeder experiences problems, residents and businesses in Okere bear the consequences.

Dankwah also recounted an experience shared by his colleague, Stephen Atobrah, following a 24-hour power outage in Adukrom-Akuapem.

He said Atobrah contacted ECG about the outage but was reportedly informed that workers were cutting tree branches or logs and needed his assistance to cut the trees to facilitate restoration.

Dankwah questioned the situation, saying customers who pay for electricity should not be expected to provide labour to restore the service.

Dankwah is appealing to ECG Eastern Region and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to urgently investigate and address the electricity challenges facing Okere.

He is calling for an audit and upgrade of all transformers serving communities on the Mampong feeder.

He also wants the dedicated Mampong-Okere feeder reconstructed and strengthened to improve the reliability of electricity supply to the district.

He further called for the establishment of a rapid-response team dedicated to Okere to ensure that outages are addressed more quickly.

Where load-shedding is unavoidable, he wants ECG to publish a clear timetable so residents, schools, businesses and public institutions can plan around the outages.

He also called for consideration of compensation mechanisms for customers whose appliances are damaged by persistent power interruptions and unstable supply.

Dankwah said that after experiencing the situation for nearly 14 years as a commuter and now as a resident, he believes Okere deserves urgent attention.

He described Okere as a peaceful and developing district that pays its electricity bills and deserves a reliable power supply.

“The power comes from Akosombo, passes through Mampong, to Okere. It passes over Okere to light Accra. It is time it lights Okere regularly too,” he said.

The statement was issued by Seth Afum A. Dankwah, of J. G. Knol Technical Institute, Adukrom-Akuapem, Eastern Region, on September 13, 2026.

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested three suspects allegedly linked to the activities of Dutch fugitive and suspected international drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, popularly known as “Bolle Jos.”

The arrests come amid heightened international scrutiny of Ghana following the seizure of a major cocaine shipment by French authorities.

According to NACOC, the three suspects are believed to have represented and facilitated the activities of Leijdekkers in Ghana. They are currently in the Commission’s custody and assisting investigators as authorities work to establish their alleged roles in the drug-trafficking network.

Arrests follow major cocaine seizure

NACOC said the arrests followed reports of a cocaine shipment seized by French customs, which investigators believe may be connected to a wider international trafficking network.

French customs recently intercepted nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at approximately €225 million, concealed in a container of plastic waste that had arrived at the port of Dunkirk from Ghana.

The shipment contained 167 packages of cocaine, with part of the consignment reportedly destined for Antwerp, Belgium. French authorities have since opened an investigation into the network behind the shipment.

Three suspects now in NACOC custody

NACOC has not publicly disclosed the identities of the three suspects or provided detailed information about their individual roles.

The Commission said, however, that they are assisting investigators as authorities examine their alleged involvement in the activities of Leijdekkers.

The arrests could potentially provide investigators with information about the people, logistics and financial structures allegedly supporting the international drug network in Ghana.

Who is ‘Bolle Jos’?

Jos Leijdekkers, widely known as “Bolle Jos,” is a Dutch fugitive who has been linked to major international cocaine-trafficking operations.

He has previously been convicted in the Netherlands in absentia for large-scale drug trafficking and other serious offences. An international manhunt has followed his movements, with reports placing him in West Africa.

Investigators and international law-enforcement agencies have continued to examine his alleged connections to drug-trafficking networks operating across the region.

NACOC sends strong warning

The latest arrests reinforce NACOC’s position that Ghana will not be allowed to become a safe haven or operational base for international drug-trafficking organisations.

The Commission said it would continue working with both domestic and international law-enforcement partners to disrupt the people, finances and infrastructure supporting the illicit drug trade.

NACOC also stressed that the rights and legal protections of persons under investigation would be respected.

Growing pressure over Ghana’s drug-trafficking links

The arrests come at a time of increasing scrutiny of Ghana’s role in international narcotics trafficking.

The recent French seizure has triggered renewed questions about how such a massive consignment of cocaine could move through an international supply chain before being intercepted abroad.

The case has also intensified calls for Ghanaian authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for using the country’s logistics networks for international drug trafficking.

Investigation continues

For now, the three suspects remain in NACOC custody while investigations continue.

Their arrest does not establish guilt, and any criminal liability will ultimately depend on evidence gathered by investigators and the outcome of due legal proceedings.

However, the development represents a significant step in Ghana’s efforts to investigate alleged local links to one of the most wanted figures in the international drug trade.

As NACOC and its international partners continue to follow the trail, attention will now turn to what investigators uncover about the alleged “Bolle Jos” network in Ghana — and whether more arrests will follow.

The debate over the possible introduction of the Chinese language into Ghana’s basic school curriculum has taken a new turn following President John Dramani Mahama’s categorical denial that the government has approved any new policy to introduce Chinese in schools.

Speaking in Wa last Saturday, President Mahama sought to calm concerns raised by parents, education stakeholders and members of the public following reports and activities suggesting that a Chinese language curriculum was being prepared for implementation in basic schools.

The President was emphatic that no such policy had been approved by Cabinet.

“I chair Cabinet and I can tell you no new curriculum has come for approval by Cabinet,” President Mahama stated.

His comments have been interpreted as a direct response to weeks of public debate surrounding reports that Chinese could be introduced into Ghana’s school curriculum.

However, the controversy surrounding the issue did not emerge without reason.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), organised a training workshop for basic school teachers on what was described as a “new Chinese language curriculum.”

The training reportedly covered areas including curriculum philosophy, learner proficiency, teaching methods and assessment rubrics.

The development immediately raised questions among parents and other stakeholders.

If Chinese had not been approved as part of the national curriculum, many questioned why teachers were being trained to understand and potentially implement a new Chinese language curriculum.

The issue has now brought attention not only to the process surrounding curriculum development but also to a broader question about the direction of Ghana’s education system.

Should Ghana introduce Chinese at the Kindergarten and primary school levels at all?

For critics of such a move, the answer is no.

The argument is that Ghana’s education system must first strengthen the foundation of young learners by ensuring that they can read and write effectively in English and Ghanaian languages before introducing additional foreign languages.

Ghana is surrounded by French-speaking neighbours, including Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso and Benin, while Niger is also part of the wider West African French-speaking environment.

Thousands of Ghanaians travel and conduct business across the borders every year.

Traders regularly move between Ghana and countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Togo, while truck drivers, business owners, health workers, teachers and other professionals increasingly operate within the ECOWAS sub-region.

For many of these people, the ability to communicate in French can provide a major advantage.

French is therefore seen by many as the most practical foreign language for Ghanaian learners because of its importance to regional trade, travel, diplomacy and economic integration.

However, despite French being taught in Ghanaian schools for decades, concerns remain about the level of proficiency among students.

Many Senior High School graduates who study French are unable to hold even a simple conversation in the language after completing their education.

Critics say this points to deeper problems in the teaching of foreign languages in Ghana, including shortages of qualified French teachers, inadequate teaching materials, limited access to language laboratories and insufficient practical opportunities for students to speak and use the language.

The argument being made is simple: if Ghana has struggled to produce French-speaking students after decades of teaching the language, introducing another foreign language at the basic level could place additional pressure on an already struggling system.

President Mahama himself highlighted one of the practical concerns surrounding the teaching of Chinese.

“We have to send planes to China and fly them down to come and teach our children,” the President said.

The statement has further fuelled discussions about the cost, availability of teachers and long-term sustainability of introducing Chinese into basic schools across the country.

Opposition to introducing Chinese at the basic school level does not necessarily mean opposition to the language itself.

China has become an increasingly important economic partner to Ghana. Chinese companies are involved in infrastructure projects, construction and other sectors of the Ghanaian economy, while China remains a major source of imports for Ghanaian businesses.

Markets and commercial centres, including Makola, Kantamanto and Suame Magazine, have strong links with Chinese goods and manufacturers.

A Ghanaian entrepreneur or trader who understands basic Chinese may therefore have a significant advantage when dealing directly with Chinese businesses.

For this reason, Chinese could have a place in Ghana’s education system.

However, the question is at what level it should be introduced.

One proposal is that Chinese should be offered as an elective subject at the Senior High School level rather than being introduced as a compulsory or core subject at the Kindergarten and primary levels.

At the SHS level, students are older and are beginning to make decisions about their academic and professional interests.

Students interested in international business, engineering, international relations and trade could choose to study Chinese.

Others could focus on French because of ECOWAS opportunities.

Arabic could also be offered as an elective for students interested in Islamic studies, international relations or opportunities in Arabic-speaking countries.

Arabic remains important to many Ghanaian communities, particularly for Islamic scholarship and religious education. It is also relevant to some Ghanaians seeking employment opportunities in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The argument is that at the Senior High School level, students are better positioned to make decisions about the languages that may support their future career paths.

Beyond the debate over Chinese, the controversy has also renewed attention on Ghana’s foundational literacy challenges.

By Primary 3, many learners still struggle with basic reading and comprehension, while others have difficulties writing simple sentences in English.

Concerns have also been raised about the declining use and teaching of Ghanaian languages.

Ghana has several indigenous languages, including Asante Twi, Ewe, Ga and Dagbani. However, many children are completing basic school without becoming sufficiently literate in their own mother tongues.

A pupil who speaks a Ghanaian language at home may still struggle to write a letter or compose a simple passage in that language.

Critics fear that increasing the number of foreign languages taught at the primary level could further reduce the attention given to Ghanaian languages.

They argue that young learners should first develop strong literacy skills before being introduced to additional academic demands.

A six-year-old child, they say, should first learn how to read and write properly before being expected to deal with several foreign languages.

The concern is that Ghana could create an overloaded curriculum in which learners are exposed to many subjects and languages without mastering any of them.

The result could be children who have limited proficiency in English, weak literacy in their mother tongues and little practical knowledge of newly introduced foreign languages.

Critics describe such an approach as “building the roof before the foundation.”

There is also increasing emphasis on the importance of mother tongue education during the early years of schooling.

Young children are believed to learn more effectively when they are introduced to concepts in a language they understand. The transition to English can then be strengthened gradually.

For this reason, there are calls for greater investment in Ghanaian language education, particularly from Kindergarten to Primary 3.

Once children develop strong reading, writing and comprehension skills in their first language and in English, they will be better prepared to learn additional languages later in life.

Critics say there is little value in adding Chinese, Arabic, coding or other modern subjects if many children are still unable to read and understand a simple passage.

The priority, they insist, should be ensuring that every Ghanaian child can read at the appropriate level by Primary 3.

Another major concern is the possible impact of an expanded foreign language curriculum on Ghanaian cultural identity.

Ghanaian languages, critics argue, are already losing ground in classrooms and homes.

In many urban communities, children are increasingly encouraged to speak English while local languages receive less attention.

If Chinese and Arabic become examinable subjects at the primary level, headteachers may have to allocate more contact hours to the new subjects, potentially reducing the time available for Ghanaian languages.

Critics have warned that Ghana must not become so focused on globalisation that it neglects its own cultural identity.

A child may be able to count from one to 10 in Chinese, but should also be able to speak and write confidently in his or her own Ghanaian language.

Globalisation and local identity should not compete with each other. However, the foundation must come first.

The possible introduction of Chinese has also raised concerns about funding, teacher availability and control over teaching materials.

Critics have questioned where Ghana would find enough qualified Chinese language teachers to teach pupils across the country.

Training Ghanaian teachers to teach Chinese would require significant investment, while relying heavily on foreign teachers could create long-term sustainability challenges.

Questions have also been raised about textbooks and other learning materials.

Critics argue that Ghana must maintain control over the content of any foreign language curriculum taught in its schools.

The broader argument is that Ghana should strengthen its capacity to develop and produce its own educational materials.

If the country struggles to provide sufficient Ghanaian language textbooks, critics argue, it may be difficult to justify investing heavily in imported materials for additional foreign languages.

At the primary school level, they insist, the classroom must remain Ghanaian first.

Following President Mahama’s statement, there are calls for the Ministry of Education and NaCCA to provide a detailed explanation regarding the Chinese language training programme organised with the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast.

Stakeholders want clarity on whether the training was purely exploratory or whether a draft curriculum had been developed for future consideration.

A joint statement from the Ministry of Education and NaCCA, critics argue, could help address concerns and reassure parents.

Such a statement should clearly explain whether Chinese and Arabic form part of the currently approved curriculum for Kindergarten to Primary 6.

There are also calls for a clear distinction between curriculum research, pilot programmes, teacher training and official national implementation.

One alternative being suggested is the introduction of Chinese and Arabic through limited pilot programmes at the Senior High School level.

Under such an arrangement, selected schools in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale could offer the languages as optional subjects or extracurricular programmes where qualified teachers and adequate resources are available.

The programme could then be evaluated after three years.

Authorities would be able to assess student interest, the availability of teachers, the cost of implementation and the usefulness of the languages to students before any nationwide expansion.

Supporters of this approach argue that it would allow Ghana to explore new global opportunities without placing additional pressure on basic school learners.

For the period between 2026 and 2028, there are calls for the Ministry of Education to focus heavily on foundational education.

Key priorities, according to critics, should include training more Ghanaian language teachers, providing adequate textbooks and improving the teaching of French.

Ghana could also strengthen language exchange programmes and educational cooperation with neighbouring French-speaking countries such as Togo, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire.

Schools could benefit from more language laboratories and modern teaching tools that encourage students to listen, speak and communicate rather than simply memorise vocabulary for examinations.

The ultimate goal should be practical language proficiency.

Students should not merely pass French examinations but be able to communicate confidently with people in neighbouring countries.

At the same time, Ghanaian language education should receive stronger support. Textbooks should be available, teachers should be adequately trained, and children should be encouraged to read, write and communicate confidently in their indigenous languages.

Most importantly, every effort should be made to ensure that children develop strong literacy skills by Primary 3.

The debate over Chinese in Ghanaian schools has ultimately developed into a broader conversation about the country’s educational priorities.

Supporters of introducing new languages argue that Ghanaian children must be prepared for an increasingly globalised world.

Critics do not necessarily disagree.

They accept that Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, German and other languages can create opportunities for young Ghanaians. They also acknowledge the importance of technology, coding, robotics and other 21st-century skills.

However, they insist that these opportunities must be built on a strong educational foundation.

For a classroom with 60 pupils, inadequate textbooks and shortages of teachers, introducing additional subjects could become another burden rather than an advantage.

Critics argue that a modern-looking curriculum is not necessarily an effective curriculum.

The real question, they say, is whether Ghanaian schools have the teachers, books, classrooms and infrastructure required to implement new programmes successfully.

A child who cannot read fluently may not benefit from being exposed to several additional languages.

The priority, therefore, should be fixing the basics.

Fix English.

Strengthen Ghanaian Language.

Improve French teaching.

Get every Primary 3 child reading.

Then, at the Senior High School level, students can be given greater opportunities to explore the world through languages and specialised subjects.

Chinese for those interested in business and trade.

Arabic for those interested in Islamic studies and opportunities in Arabic-speaking countries.

French for regional integration and ECOWAS opportunities.

Other languages and modern subjects, including Spanish, German, coding and robotics, could also be offered depending on available resources.

The central message from the debate remains clear: Ghana does not have to choose between being locally grounded and globally competitive.

It can achieve both.

But before Ghana builds a globally competitive education system, many believe it must first ensure that its children can read, write and communicate effectively.

Foundation first. Global later.