Terabuuriyele, a Civil Society Organisation committed to promoting the cultures and traditions of the Upper East Region have commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for directing that the Gurene language be made an examinable subject in the basic schools.

For many years, efforts have been made by chiefs, educationists and civil society groups to get the Ghana Education Service to make the Gurene language spoken by the Farifari people of Bolgatanga, an examinable Ghanaian Language subject.

Though Gurene is being taught in some schools as a Ghanaian Language subject and even used at the kindergarten level as a first language by teachers to help children understand lessons better, it has never been one of the subjects written during the Basic Education Certificate Exams or at any higher level.

This prompted the many attempts in the last decade to get the Ghana Education Service to make the language an examinable subject.

Addressing the Upper East Regional House chiefs in his recent two-day visit of the region, the president told the chiefs that he had directed the Minister of Education to see to the Implementation of the Gurene Language as an examinable subject in the basic schools.

“One important thing is the language of instructions in basic schools in the region. I have instructed the Education Minister to work with the Ghana Education Service and the University of Education Winneba to ensure that Gurene becomes one of the languages taught and examined at the basic level in the region,” the president said.

Terabuuriyele, one of the many Civil Society Organizations that had advocated for the Gurene language to be made an examinable subject, says they are excited by the president’s bold declaration.

In a press release, the group which is made up natives of Bolgatanga and other Farifari speaking people both home and abroad, commended the president for listening to their call.

“We are overwhelmed that after years of advocating, writing petitions and holding press conferences, our request has finally been granted”, the statement reads.

It went further to say; “From our language experts, the teaching and learning materials required for the implementation of the language are available.

"They include syllabus, textbooks, dictionaries and other supplementary materials. The announcement therefore made by the President could not have come at a better time than this”.

Terabuureyele also used the opportunity to remind the president of his commitment to construct an airport for the people of the Upper East Region.

“We want to reiterate our appeal to you to give consideration to maintaining Bolgatanga as the location for the airport project”, their statement read.

Below is the full press statement from Terabuuriyele;

PRESS RELEASE

TERABUURIYELE ORGANIZATION COMMENDS PRESIDENT AKUFO ADDO FOR LISTENING TO OUR CALL FOR THE GURENE LANGUAGE TO BE MADE AN EXAMINABLE SUBJECT IN THE BASIC AND SECOND CYCLE INSTITUTIONS

TERABUUIYELE, a civil society organization made up of Natives of Bolgatanga and other Farifari speaking communities in the Upper East Region with members across the country and abroad want to express our profound gratitude to President Nana Akufo-Addo for directing that the Gurene Language be made an examinable subject in the basic, Junior High (JSH), and Senior High (SHS) Schools.

As Members of Terabuuriyele, we are actually overwhelmed that after years of advocating and writing petitions, holding press conferences, our request has finally been granted.

The President while speaking to chiefs at the Regional House of Chiefs in his two days tour of the Upper East Region, directed the Minister of Education Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh to see to the Implementation of the Gurene Language as an examinable subject in the basic and second cycle institutions.

From our language experts, the teaching and learning materials required for the implementation of the language are available.

They include syllabus, textbooks, dictionaries and other supplementary materials.

The announcement, therefore made by the President could not have come at better time than this.

We, are therefore, once again grateful to the President and all those who played an important role leading to this big announcement.

We, the members of Terebuuriyele home and abroad want to assure the President and the good people of our homeland of our full support for the speedy implementation of the language.

As Oliver Twist, we are using this medium to remind His Excellency the President about our airport project he promised us.

Our information is that contrary to your firm commitment to the people of Bongo, the Aviation Minister Joseph Kofi Adda since taking over as Minister, has been making frantic efforts to relocate the technically unsuitable Paga Airstrip against the interest of the good people of the Upper East Region.

Is our hope and prayer that his Excellency President Akufo-Addo will retain the Bolgatanga Airport as original planned.

We want to reiterate our appeal to you to give consideration to maintaining Bolgatanga as the location for the airport project.

Thank you,

Signed

Gabriel Agambila Akakeri

Terabuuriyele Chairman, U.S.A