Alagumgube advances Gurené education with donations of lesson books

The Alagumgube Association has donated 260 Gurené lesson books to the Upper East Regional Education Directorate to support the teaching and learning of the language in basic schools across the region.

The donation, comprising 250 books for five Gurené-speaking Municipal and District Education Directorates and 10 additional copies for the Regional Directorate, was presented on Friday, September 18, 2026, at the Regional Education Office in Bolgatanga.

Speaking at the ceremony, Abraham Adoctor Giba, who represented the association, said the initiative formed part of Alagumgube’s broader commitment to supporting educational development and addressing developmental gaps in the Upper East Region.

He said education remained central to sustainable development, while the preservation of indigenous languages was equally important to maintaining cultural identity and heritage.

“It is generally recognised that people often think and express their deepest ideas in their mother tongue before interpreting them into other languages where necessary. For this reason, the development and promotion of indigenous languages in education is crucial and must be given the attention it deserves,” he said.

Mr Giba said Alagumgube considered it important to support Gurené education, particularly following the approval of the language as a Ghanaian language for teaching and examination.

“We believe that all stakeholders must contribute their quota towards making Gurené a strong, vibrant and respected language of education and communication,” he added.

Although the association recognised that the 260 books would not meet the needs of all schools, Mr Giba described the donation as a seed that could lead to larger interventions in the future.

“We see this donation as a seed being planted today, with the hope that it will grow into something much bigger in the future,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the initiative would not be a one-off intervention, saying Alagumgube would continue to explore opportunities to support the development, promotion and preservation of the Gurené language.

Mr Giba also acknowledged individuals who have contributed to the development of Gurené teaching materials, including Prof. Avea Nsoh, Prof. Atintono Samuel, Mr James Ababila, Dr Helen Atipoka and Mr Nathaniel N-yaaba and his colleagues.

He also commended Mr Akariboga Isaac, the writer of the donated books, for his contribution to the development and promotion of the language.

“Although their contributions may not always receive immediate recognition, posterity will remember them, and the annals of history will forever record their efforts,” he said.

Beyond education, Mr Giba highlighted several interventions undertaken by Alagumgube in the Upper East Region, including its advocacy and support towards the development of the Upper East Regional Airport.

He said the association mobilised resources to clear and gravel the airport runway after the project stalled and subsequently advocated for further interventions, including the preparation of a cadastral plan.

He said the association was encouraged by progress on the airport project and expected a sod-cutting ceremony to pave the way for construction to commence.

Mr Giba also recounted Alagumgube’s role in efforts that led to the establishment of a passport office in the region, following concerns over the challenges residents faced in travelling to Wa to access passport-related services.

He said the association had also undertaken social and humanitarian interventions, including visits to the Navrongo Prisons, Mama Laadi Children’s Home and the maternity ward of the Bolgatanga Hospital, as well as supporting two mothers of triplets in Bongo.

He further announced that Alagumgube’s Ghana chapter would hold its anniversary celebration in December 2026, following the second anniversary celebration of its diaspora branches in the United States in July.

Mr Giba expressed appreciation to the Upper East Regional Director of Education and Municipal and District Directors of Education for their continued efforts towards the promotion of Gurené.

He called for collective efforts to preserve and promote the language, stressing that language preservation was closely linked to the preservation of cultural identity.

“When we preserve our language, we preserve our identity; when we teach it to our children, we pass our heritage on to the next generation,” he said.