The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, in collaboration with Sign Language Empowerment (SILANEM), has launched a groundbreaking Sign Language Education Project to demonstrate commitment to inclusive education and accessibility.

The initiative is set to transform how students, staff, and the broader community engage with persons with hearing disabilities, reaffirming that inclusion is not a choice but a shared responsibility.

The launch, held at the UMaT auditorium, drew students, staff, pupils from basic schools, disability advocates, and community stakeholders. Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Richard Kwasi Amankwah, the Dean of the Office of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (ORIC), Prof. Michael Affam, emphasized the university’s unwavering commitment to inclusive and equitable education.

“This is not just a project. It is a statement of intent. It reflects our intentional and unwavering resolve to ensure that no one in UMaT is disadvantaged because of a disability,” Professor Affam said. “Inclusion is not about them. It is about all of us. It is fundamental.”

Prof Affam highlighted the alignment of the project with Ghana’s policy frameworks, such as the Pre-Tertiary Education Act 2020, the Inclusive Education Policy (2015), and the Persons with Disability Act. Despite these policies, he noted that systemic barriers still hinder persons with disabilities from fully participating in society.

To bridge this gap, UMaT is exploring the introduction of a short course in sign language for students, staff, and community members. This course aims to foster deeper engagement, improve accessibility, and build an institutional culture where diversity is respected and embraced.

This course will be facilitated by SILLANEM, a sign language institution that has been at the forefront of training people in sign language in Ghana for over a decade.

Speaking at the launch, the CEO of SILANEM, Mr. Richmond Baidoo Richmond Baidoo said, “The Sign Language Education Project (SiLEP) was born out of a shared vision to bridge the communication gap between the Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing communities,”.

“We believe that by starting Sign Language education from the basic school to the tertiary levels, we are nurturing a generation that naturally embraces inclusive communication.”

He expressed his commitment to leveraging this initiative to extend support to
the disability community and enhance their quality of life.
He emphasized the importance of education and awareness in fostering an inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Meanwhile, watch the trailer to GhanaWeb’s yet-to-air documentary on teenage girls and how fish is stealing their futures below: