The Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) has handed over Teaching and Learning Materials to the Faculty of Educational Foundations at a short ceremony at the conference room of the Faculty of Educational Foundations. Welcoming the team, the Coordinator of Sign Language Interpreting Programme, UCC, Dr. Irene Vanderpuye, stated that the purpose of the gathering was to officially exit the collaborative terms between UCC and GNAD which existed from 2017 to 2020. She explained that it was part of the agreement that at the end of the programme, the learning resources would be handed over to the Faculty to continue with the diploma in Ghanaian Sign Language Programme initiated by the Ghana National Association of the Deaf under the Danida joint project, Strengthening the Disability Movements in Ghana.

The short ceremony was attended by the Vice Dean, Faculty of Educational Foundations, Prof. Emmanuel Kofi Gyimah, the course Coordinator, Dr. Irene Vanderpuye, the course Secretary. Other officers present were Present were the Secretary to the Programme, Dr. Gideon Kwesi Obosu; Snr. Lecturer, Dr. Edward Kofi Ntim; Assistant Lecturer, Ms. Ivy Ama Kpodoe, College Finance Officer, College of Educational Studies; Mrs. Kate Adu-Gyinah, Faculty Account Officer, Mr. Iddrisu Abubakar. GNAD team was made up of the Executive Director of GNAD, Mr. Juventus Dourinaah, Sign Language Officer, Mr. Richard Doku, and Brit Holm Andersen from Danish Deaf Association (DDL).

Speaking at the gathering, the Director of GNAD expressed gratitude to the University authorities for their support throughout the span of the programme. “We have over 50 trained persons with certificates in Ghanaian Sign Language Interpreting programme,” he said, adding that some of the graduates are currently interpreting in various institutions such as the University of Ghana, Presbyterian College of Education, Parliament of Ghana, St. John’s Integrated Senior High Technical to mention but a few. He assured the Faculty of all the necessary financial, technical and material support from GNAD towards the continuation of the Sign Language Interpreting Programme.

He hinted that other countries such as Rwanda had already expressed interest to join the programme following successes chalked in Ghana. He was hopeful that the programme would be continued even after the expiration of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in order to train more certified Ghanaian Sign Language Interpreting professionals to help facilitate communication, teaching and learning in the country.

Receiving the equipment, the Vice Dean, Faculty of Educational Foundations, Prof. Emmanuel Kofi Gyimah, commended GNAD for its’ gesture and commitment to the agreement. He stated that “As an institution, we cannot compromise on training people who are hearing impaired.” Prof. Gyimah promised that the equipment would be used for their intended purposes. He was hopeful that beneficiaries of the programme would contribute their quota towards the development of the nation. The items presented include two (2) HP Laptops, two (2) projectors, 1 Galaxy-A6 tablet, (1) Samsung smart camera, (1) tripod, (1) Projector Screen and (4) four extension boards.

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