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Clement Sam — abandons Biochemistry dream for Sign Language Interpretation
Born at Korle-Gonno in Accra, Clement Sam, always loved to do things differently and that posture has motivated and propelled him to excel in his endeavours.
The man who hails from Winneba in the Central Region, had wanted to become a Biochemist but that ambition did not manifest as life certainly had other challenging roles in store for him.
His curiosity and the passion to support the less privileged made him take up Sign Language Interpretation — a rather demanding but rewarding venture.
Mr Sam, interacting with The Spectator recently on the intricacies of the role, explained that he decided to become a ‘mediator’ between the deaf community and the public because he wanted to know whether there was a “sign representation to every word we spoke.”
Other than becoming a doctor, an accountant or nurse, he was bent on “doing something different from what was considered a “normal” profession.
“It was easier at the beginning because I was on an adventure and with a heightened curiosity, I wanted to learn more,” he noted.
As expected of a novice in any profession, Mr Sam would make mistakes while interpreting signs and symbols. But he soon realised that there must be no room for mistakes if he, indeed, wanted to excel in his chosen career.
Though it was quite fulfilling for him, he still had to make a conscious effort to improve on any assignment he undertook by listening to feedback or criticism from his peers.
The profession came with its own challenges but Sam believes the favour of God and humility had helped him overcome many hurdles.
“First, I needed to prove all those who doubted me wrong and prove myself right that I have chosen the right career path and will succeed,” he said.
Recounting his first Television encounter on a programme dubbed “This Week” in Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) studio, Mr Sam said he executed that assignment to the best of his ability as he had already had a similar experience.
“The person interpreting the programme had travelled. I saw an opportunity, went to GBC presented myself as an interpreter and got the job after weeks of trial on set,” he recalled.
That task, he admitted, had since come with other rewarding opportunities within and outside the shores of the country.
Mr Sam had played other crucial roles during the “Meet-The-Press” sessions organised by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Information to disseminate and educate the public on COVID-19 and other matters of national interest.
Apart from the long hours he endured while interpreting speeches at this forum, he noted that the engagement also had some setbacks.
“Because I am always seen standing next to officials who handle some of the cases, some people tend to suggest that I might have contracted the disease but all my test results have always proved negative,” he noted.
The full time Sign Language Interpreter has over the years maintained a strong relationship with the Deaf Community through the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD)
He is a member of the committee set up by GNAD to advocate the recognition of Ghanaian Sign language in the country.
The expert, who aspires to become a Certified International Sign Language Interpreter, emphasised the need to give Ghanaian Sign language utmost recognition.
He urged aspiring interpreters to be humble and “accept constructive criticism from the Deaf community and their colleague interpreters ” and that they should never accept an assignment “for which they do not have the requisite interpretation skills.”
“If they follow these pieces of advice, they will accomplish a lot more than what I have achieved so far,” he stressed.
Mr Sam attended Hampstead Academy Primary and Junior High Schools at Korle-gonno and Winneba Secondary School where he studied General Science before proceeding to University Of Cape Coast.
His parents were the late Mr. Peter Sam of the University of Ghana Medical School and Madam Doris Abore.
In addition to watching and talking football, he enjoys reading research articles on sign language and sign language interpretation. Jollof rice and gizzard are his favourite.
Mr Sam, President of the National Association of Sign Language Interpreters Ghana, was recognised for “Excellence in Sign Language Interpretation” at the recently held Radio and Television Personality (RTP) Awards.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
