Accra, Dec. 3, GNA - The Acting Director of the Ghana Institute of Languages (GIL), Mr C.K. Angkosaala, has called on all concerned persons to help pass the new Act for the Institute to reflect its tertiary status. He said the old NLCD 1969 was inadequate in addressing the current concerns of the GIL.

He said as a result of the lateness of the bill, qualified staff had refused to join the institution, adding that there had been a high turnover of employees.

The Director made this announcement on Thursday, at the ninth matriculation of students at the Institute's campus at Okponglo in Accra. He said the Institute which had branches in Kumasi and Tamale, trained students to be awarded either a proficiency certificate or a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Translation. He said students of the Institute were found everywhere, including the ministries, embassies, NGOs and multilateral organisations. He disclosed that with support from the GET-Fund and the Ministry of Education, the GIL had received a two storey classroom block for the Kumasi campus and another two storey 18-unit classroom block in Accra. He explained that the GIL had updated its programs by introducing modular courses for the study of languages. This, he said, was done as a result of the competition from new private language schools emerging in Accra.

Mr Angkosaala said the Institute still needed support for the creation of language laboratories, multimedia equipment, buildings to house the ICT departments, offices and accommodation for staff members. He advised the new students to seize every occasion to develop their talents and to avoid bad company. A spokesperson for the students, Miss Ewuraba Ebum, thanked the Director for the word of advice and promised that she and her colleagues would abide by the rules of the institution. 0