The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has called for a fundamental reset of Ghana’s education system, urging policymakers to root learning firmly in the country’s heritage to drive innovation, leadership, and sustainable development.
Speaking as the guest speaker at the 95th Anniversary and Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Accra Academy, his alma mater, Mr Agyebeng stressed that education remains the most powerful tool for shaping a confident and self-reliant society.
Addressing the theme, “Education as the Catalyst for Preserving Heritage, Driving Innovation, and Empowering Future Leadership,” he warned that Ghana’s continued dependence on inherited colonial education models has created a growing disconnect between knowledge and national identity.
According to him, the country’s formal education system was originally designed to serve colonial administrative interests rather than indigenous development, a legacy he said has been compounded by external religious influences. This, he noted, has led to the marginalisation of local languages, distortion of indigenous names, and a gradual erosion of cultural identity.
“Our languages became unspeakable taboos; our culture and traditions were labelled barbarous,” he stated.
Mr Agyebeng pointed to the continued use of altered indigenous names—such as Ashanti instead of Asante, Kumasi instead of Kumase, Kyebi rendered as Kibi, and Oguaa replaced with Cape Coast—as evidence of a deeper identity crisis.
He cautioned that Ghana now finds itself in an “in-between” state, neither fully grounded in its own heritage nor completely aligned with external systems it seeks to emulate.
The Special Prosecutor argued that this identity gap has serious consequences for innovation and leadership, as societies disconnected from their roots often struggle to think independently and act with purpose.
To address this, he proposed a deliberate restructuring of the education system around three key pillars: preservation of heritage, promotion of innovation, and cultivation of leadership.
“Our educational system must securely preserve our heritage for any meaningful impact. The preservation of heritage drives innovation, which in turn empowers future leadership,” he emphasised.
Mr Agyebeng further called for a shift beyond examination-driven learning, advocating an education that develops the “heart, head, and hand”—instilling values, sharpening critical thinking, and equipping students with practical skills.
While acknowledging the importance of global knowledge, he stressed that Ghana must engage with the world from a position of confidence rooted in its identity.
“At all costs, we should enhance our circumstances with enlightened innovation and knowledge wherever it may come from. However, we should not lose ourselves and our identities in the process,” he added.
He concluded with a call for national reflection, urging stakeholders to confront the shortcomings of the current system and pursue reforms that align education with Ghana’s history and future aspirations.
In his view, the goal of education must go beyond academic success to nurturing a generation capable of defining its own path, innovating with purpose, and leading with clarity.
