King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse, has praised the leadership of Odorgonno Senior High School (SHS) for taking steps to revive the teaching and learning of the Ga language as part of the school's 85th anniversary celebrations.
He made these remarks when the Headmaster of Odorgonno SHS, along with some representatives from the board of governors and teachers, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace on Friday.
The Ga Mantse expressed concern about the gradual decline of the Ga language due to the dominance of other languages within Ga land.
He emphasized the importance of language in preserving cultural identity.
"As Gas, we are losing our language as other languages are being spoken on Ga land. One's way of speaking can easily show where he or she hails from," the King said.
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II was pleased with the headmaster's initiative to reintroduce Ga in the school’s curriculum and promised his full support.
He announced that Nuumo Akwaa Mensa III, Nae Wulomo, will be assigned to visit the school and educate the students on the Ga language, its importance, and cultural significance.
Furthermore, the Ga Mantse assured that the Ga State will play an active role in the school's 85th-anniversary celebrations.
"The 85th anniversary of Odorgonno SHS will be heavily represented by the Ga State," he stated.
On his part, Headmaster of Odorgonno SHS, Patrick Kofi Mensah outlined a bold vision to integrate Ga culture into the school’s curriculum and environment.
Mr. Mensah noted that despite the school's long-standing presence on Ga land and its significant student population of nearly 4,000, the teaching of Ga language and culture has not been prioritized.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that students leave the school with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Ga culture.
"My vision is that by the time a student completes three years at Odorgonno SHS, they should be able to understand and express themselves in Ga or at least appreciate the totality of Ga culture," Mr. Mensah said.
He lamented the shortage of Ga teachers in the school, revealing that currently, there is only one Ga teacher.
He underscored the need to recruit more teachers to improve the teacher-student ratio and enhance learning outcomes.
"It took a lot of effort and time to introduce Ga in the school’s curriculum, but sustaining it has been a challenge. If we have more Ga teachers, the interaction between students and teachers will be enhanced, reinforcing our identity as a true Ga school," Mr. Mensah added.
He expressed confidence that with more resources and support, Odorgonno SHS could serve as a model for cultural preservation and education within the Ga community.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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