News
NPP demands apology or sacking of Education Minister over Arabic, Chinese language controversy
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to either apologise to Ghanaians or remove Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu from office over the controversy surrounding the proposed introduction of Arabic and Chinese language studies in schools.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the party’s Education Sector Policy Committee argued that conflicting statements from the President and the Education Minister had raised serious questions about policy coordination within the government.
According to the NPP, President Mahama last week denied approving any policy to introduce Arabic and Chinese into Ghanaian schools, insisting that there was “absolutely no new policy” on the matter.
The party, however, said the President’s position contradicted earlier statements and actions by the Education Minister and institutions under the Ministry.
It noted that Mr Iddrisu had, on April 24, publicly announced that Chinese and Arabic would become compulsory foreign languages at the secondary school level and had linked the policy to President Mahama’s vision for education.
The NPP further claimed that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) was subsequently directed by the Education Ministry to undertake work on the curriculum.
It said about 160 writers and reviewers were engaged over several months, resulting in a revised curriculum that included Arabic and Chinese among the foreign language options.
The party said the revised curriculum was presented to the Education Minister on July 22, but he did not reject it. Instead, it said, he referred the document to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and directed the service to prepare for its implementation.
The NPP cited a teacher training programme held on September 3 by NaCCA, with support from the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast, to train teachers to implement the new Chinese language curriculum.
It argued that these developments created the impression that the policy was an official government initiative.
“Either the Minister was advancing a major policy direction without the President’s authority, despite presenting it as part of the President’s vision, or the public has still not been given the full account of what Government had actually authorised and pursued,” the statement noted.
The party raised concerns about public funds allegedly spent on curriculum development, workshops, technical work and teacher training.
It questioned why such resources would have been committed if, as the President maintains, there was “absolutely no new policy”.
The NPP further pointed to comments by President Mahama questioning where Ghana would get teachers to teach Chinese when the country was already facing shortages of French teachers.
According to the party, that concern raises questions about why preparations for the teaching of Chinese had already progressed to curriculum development and teacher training.
The NPP, however, stressed that Arabic and Chinese should not be treated in exactly the same way.
It explained that Arabic was already an optional subject at the junior high school level before the current government took office, while Chinese was part of what it described as a new 2026 process involving curriculum development, implementation preparations and teacher training.
The party said the controversy had now gone beyond the question of whether Arabic and Chinese should be taught in schools.
It argued that if the Education Minister acted without presidential or Cabinet approval, then the President should take action against him.
However, if he acted with the knowledge or authority of the President or Cabinet, the NPP said President Mahama should apologise to Ghanaians and provide a full account of the policy and expenditure involved.
The party said parents, teachers, school administrators and taxpayers deserved clear and consistent communication from the government.
“The President cannot have it both ways,” the NPP stated, insisting that the matter should not simply be declared closed.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the party said interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period.
The party said a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000 would be charged to each prospective candidate.
It added that all applicants would undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility to contest on the party’s ticket.
The NPP announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December 2026. The workshops will be held across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones, with details of the venues to be announced later.
The party stressed that the guidelines would apply to all prospective candidates, including sitting NPP Members of Parliament who wish to contest again.
It further warned aspirants against starting campaign activities following the opening of the application process.
According to the statement, the existing directive prohibiting campaign activities remains in force until the party gives official clearance.
It cautioned that anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions under the party’s constitution and regulations.
The NPP said the process was designed to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants as it prepares to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.
It urged prospective candidates to follow the guidelines and conduct themselves with discipline and respect for one another throughout the process.
The party said its broader objective was to strengthen unity within its ranks and rebuild public confidence ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
eputy Foreign Minister accompanies Veep to Shanghai to champion Global South reform, industrial drive
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, accompanied Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on a successful working visit to Shanghai, China, from 15th to 19th October 2026, at the invitation of the East China Normal University (ECNU).
The highlight of the visit was the 2026 Global South Academic Forum held on 17th October, which brought together over 200 scholars, policymakers, political party leaders and media professionals from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, under the theme “Global South Political Parties: Governance and Modernisation.”
In her keynote address, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang asserted that political independence is only truly the beginning, stating that “winning political power and governing effectively are related but not the same responsibility.” She called for stronger South-South cooperation, multilateralism and reform of the global financial architecture to end debt traps, ensure fair risk assessments and promote climate policies that respect different national circumstances.
On 18th October, she addressed a business forum with Chinese investors, linking Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy policy to industrialization. Warning that training youth without factories creates unemployment, she appealed for factories to be established in Ghana to serve the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, with priority on value addition in cocoa processing, shea butter, cashew, coconut and timber.
On October 19, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Kojo Bonsu, hosted a dinner at the Shangri-La for the Vice-President, attended by members of the Ghanaian community and business leaders, who praised the thorough preparation by the Ghana Embassy staff for the visit.
Throughout the trip, Mr. Quayson coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align the engagements with Ghana’s jobs and transformation agenda.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
