GIL holds 2008/2009 Matriculation

Accra, Nov. 21, GNA - The Ghana Institute of Languages (GIL) on Friday held its 7th matriculation in Accra with a call on government to expand its facilities to enable the Institute to achieve its objective of breaking language barriers to promote inter-cultural relations. The 2008/2009 matriculation enrolled 583 students to pursue programmes in applied linguistics.

Mr Christopher Anglosaaka, Acting Director of the GIL, said the Institute established by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah in 1961 to promote Pan-Africanism remained the only institute of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, providing professional translation and bilingual secretarial training.

He said its products were therefore working in top and middle-level positions in the UN system, diplomatic missions, the African Union and other globally acclaimed institutions.

Mr Anglosaaka said notwithstanding its relevance in promoting cordial relations between Ghana and other countries, the Institute was constrained in infrastructure and other academic facilities. Since its inception, he said, the Institute was sharing two blocks with five other institutions, saying this was frustrating its efforts to expand facilities.

The Acting Director also expressed worry that the upgrading of the institute to a tertiary status had not reflected in the conditions of service and remuneration of its staff, adding that this was frustrating efforts to retain its labour force.

He also asked government to expedite action on the enactment of the new GIL Act to replace the NLCR 324 of 1962, which was no longer relevant for the growth and dynamism of modern day bilingual training. Mr Anglosaaka thanked government for providing the Institute with GETFund to construct a two-storey classroom block at Okponglo in Accra and called for more funds to accelerate the completion of the project. The students would pursue programmes in Bilingual Secretarial course, Bachelor of Arts in Translation and seven international languages - French, English, Arabic, German Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. 21 Nov. 08