The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, has raised concerns about the growing neglect of traditional values and customs in the face of democratic governance and rapid modernisation.
Addressing a gathering of chiefs in Kumasi on June 25, 2025, during the visit of His Majesty King Mswati III of Eswatini, Ogyeahoho Gyebi stressed the urgent need to preserve indigenous cultures — particularly native languages — as key pillars of identity and development.
Speaking on behalf of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, he lamented the increasing tendency among Ghanaians to abandon traditional names in favour of foreign ones, warning that this trend poses a serious threat to cultural continuity.
“Even though we practise democracy, we have not abandoned our traditions. We continue to emphasise the preservation of our languages and customs. But it seems that in Ghana, we are no longer naming our children with traditional names. Instead, we are adopting unfamiliar foreign names. We accept modernity, but we must also focus on what can help develop and ground our country,” he said.
Ogyeahoho Gyebi further called on the government to reintroduce History as a core subject in the national school curriculum to help instill a deeper sense of cultural identity and national pride in future generations.
“Unfortunately, history has been removed from the curriculum, and many of our children no longer know where they come from. Some of us here are teachers, and we must draw the government’s attention — especially the Ministry of Education — to the urgent need to reintroduce History. Understanding our past is essential to shaping our future,” he added.
Public commentary not the remedy – Inusah Fuseini to Suspended CJ
