Abstract

"English (Linguistics) in Ghana: Growth, Trends and Future Directions" by Kwabena Sarfo Sarfo-Kantankah

The study of English/English linguistics in Ghana has evolved significantly since the introduction of English during the colonial era. Today, English is not only the official language but also a key medium of instruction in education, governance and business. This presentation explores the growth of English (linguistics) in Ghana, examining how English has integrated into the local linguistic landscape alongside over 80 indigenous languages. It will trace the historical trajectory of the role of English in the country, highlighting its development from a colonial imposition to a language that now holds significant socio-political and cultural value.

The presentation also discusses current trends, focusing on the localized varieties of English, particularly Ghanaian English. These varieties exhibit unique phonological, syntactic and lexical features, reflecting the influence of local languages like Akan, Ewe and Ga. The growing academic interest in Ghanaian English, its features and its implications for identity and national discourse will be examined.

Moreover, the presentation looks at future directions for English linguistics in Ghana. This includes the role of technology in language teaching and learning, the impact of globalization on linguistic diversity and the increasing demand for English proficiency in international communication. The paper will also consider the challenges posed by the dominance of English, including the marginalization of indigenous languages and the implications for cultural preservation.

By examining these growth patterns, current trends and future possibilities, this presentation aims to provide a comprehensive overview of English/English linguistics in Ghana, contributing to broader discussions on language evolution, identity and education in multilingual societies.

Keywords: English linguistics, Ghanaian English, language trends, multilingualism, indigenous languages

Abstract

"Branding Ghana through global sports: Unpacking narratives of corporate sponsors and football fans" by Daniel Edem Adzovie

Ghana is home to many sporting activities and made strides in boxing, athletics and football among others. Between 1963 and 1984, Ghana won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) four times and among the highest in Africa. Having made four appearances in the World Cup, Ghana emerged as the first African nation to progress beyond the group stages to reach the quarter-finals in the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa. This got Ghana ranked seventh out of the 32 participating nations across the globe. However, Ghana seems to be retrogressing on the reputational gains made and leaning exclusively on its ‘past glories’. To boost and redeem her image, and intercontinental presence, Ghana launched the ‘Brand Ghana Programme’ in 2009 to sell the fortunes of the country abroad. With this, corporate Ghana identified sponsorship of the country’s local and more significantly, participation in global sports as a marketing communication avenue to brand Ghana positively on one hand, and largely, to promote their own business brands on the other. However, it appears that the corporate entities in Ghana and the country at large are not accruing the promotional benefits envisaged. To unravel these states-of-affairs, we propose an exploratory study that sources data from purposively selected corporate sponsors and sports lovers who will be subjected to appropriate inclusion and exclusion variables. The work focuses on football as a global sport due to its acceptance as a ‘beautiful game’ and huge audience (spectator) base.
Keywords: Sports, FIFA world cup, corporate sponsors, branding, AFCON, Ghana.

CV

Prof. Kwabena Sarfo Sarfo-Kantankah is Professor of English at the Department of English, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, where he teaches English language courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He is a former head of the Department of English, a former Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and now the Dean of the same Faculty. He obtained his first and second degrees in English Language from the Department of English, University of Cape Coast, and his PhD from the University of Leeds, UK. His PhD research was on UK and Ghanaian parliamentary discourse. He also holds an MA in Democracy, Governance, Law and Development from the University of Cape Coast, and a Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of Law, UK. Professor Sarfo-Kantankah’s research interests include corpus-assisted discourse studies (CADS), (critical) discourse analysis, and political/parliamentary discourse and pragmatics. These research interests emanate from his desire to understand the interrelationship between language, society and politics.

Dr. Daniel Edem Adzovie is a lecturer at the Department of Communication Studies, University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana. He earned his Ph.D. in Visual Arts (Multimedia & Design) from Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Czech Republic. With extensive training and experience in visual communication, advertising, and public relations, Edem worked in various creative studios and advertising agencies before transitioning into academia. At UCC, he teaches a diverse range of courses, including Corporate Identity and Image, Communication & Society, and Introduction to New Media, amongst others. He also holds key positions in the department, serving as the Coordinator for Graduate Programmes, Communication & Media Seminars, and Collaborations & Partnerships. His research interests span visual communication, corporate image, advertising, migration communication, science communication, multimodality, and media studies.