Celebrating 50 Years of Sign Language Work in Ghana (1975–2025)
On 23rd August 2025, the Centre for Sign Language and Deaf Literacy (CSLDL) and the HANDS!Lab at Leiden University hosted a historic celebration at the Art of Hearing Hall, Anagkazo Campus, in Mampong, Eastern Region of Ghana, marking 50 years of sign language research in Ghana. This event commemorated the pioneering work of Dr. Nancy Frishberg, the American linguist whose foundational documentation of sign language in Ghana began in the 1970s.
The celebration was a highlight of the School for Digital Deaf Studies (SDDS: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/sign-languages/projects/school-for-digital-deaf-studies) — a 10-day summer school organized to bring together Deaf participants and scholars from across Africa for intensive training in sign language linguistics, digital tools, and advocacy. The SDDS initiative, along with the 50-year celebration, was made possible through the generous support of Leiden University, which served as the main funder of the entire program.
This dual event created a unique space for reflection on the past, recognition of key contributors, and inspiration for the future of Deaf-led research and empowerment across the continent.
Highlights of the Celebration
- Keynote Address by Dr. Nancy Frishberg and Dr. Victoria Nyst, reflecting on their groundbreaking research in Ghana.
- Screening of the documentary Adamorobe: A Community with Sign Language
- Research presentations from Ghanaian scholars and Deaf leaders, including:
- Dr. Timothy Mac Hadjah on the history and ideologies of Ghanaian Sign Language(s)
- Mr. Jonathan Amoah on the Deaf Ghanaian perspective
- A focus group discussion by deaf educators
- Cultural performance by Deaf youth showcasing identity and storytelling in GSL
Honoring Pioneers
During the program, we paused to recognize several individuals whose contributions have shaped the field of sign language in Ghana:
- Dr. Nancy Frishberg; for initiating the first linguistic documentation of sign language in Ghana.
- Prof. George Akanlig-Pare; for pioneering GSL education and research at the University of Ghana.
- Dr. Seth Ocloo; for his continuing contributions to Deaf scholarship and empowerment
- Mr. Francis Boison (posthumous); for his leadership in Deaf education
- Mr. Alexander Okyere (posthumous); for his advocacy and community-building efforts
Each honoree was acknowledged with a commemorative plaque or framed tribute as a token of appreciation from the Deaf and academic communities.
A Day to Remember
The celebration was rich with reflection, recognition, and a renewed commitment to Deaf-led scholarship in Ghana. The atmosphere was a beautiful intergenerational gathering where elders and youth, rural and urban Deaf communities, and scholars and students came together to learn from one another. Moments of interaction between younger Deaf participants and pioneers of Ghana’s sign language movement created a powerful bridge between past and present.
This unique gathering allowed for meaningful dialogue across communities, highlighting both the historical journey and the future promise of sign language work in Ghana.
CSLDL hopes this celebration will not be an ending, but a stepping stone for the next 50 years of Deaf empowerment, research, and linguistic pride.
