The Ministry of Education has committed to partner Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to address challenges faced by people with learning differences such as dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects reading and writing skills and impacts information processing, memory and organisational abilities.
The partnership would include launching a national awareness campaign to combat stigmatisation and misconceptions about dyslexia, as well as co-designing specialised training programmes for teachers, headteachers, School Improvement Support Officers (SISOs) and directors of education.
Others would include researching and piloting learning disability projects in inclusive classrooms.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, stated that the ministry would also ensure policy alignment and technical exchange with international experts through the Africa Dyslexia Organisation (ADO’s) network to position the country as a centre of excellence in inclusive education in Africa.
The minister was speaking during the 2025 Africa Dyslexia Organisation Conference held in Accra last Wednesday on the theme “Shifting Minds, Inspiring Actions”.
Conference
The two-day event served as a catalyst for regional policy reform, education transformation and workforce inclusion.
It brought together over 400 delegates from across Africa and beyond, including education leaders, business professionals, teachers, parents, researchers and policymakers to discuss how Africa could better support people with learning differences such as dyslexia.
The conference equipped participants with the knowledge to shape education systems better and offered practical ways to support learners with dyslexia at home, school or work.
There were panel discussions and presentations on understanding learning differences, language variation, educational equity and dialogue on building an inclusive future.
Conducive environment
Mr Iddrisu estimated that approximately three million Ghanaians lived with various forms of dyslexia.
He said that, despite the research evidence, little attention was paid to dyslexic children in Ghanaian classrooms, with some teachers perceiving them as having low intelligence or being unable to learn.
He said the Education Ministry would create a conducive environment for initiatives such as the ADO's advocacy program to thrive.
He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to partner CSOs and other stakeholders in identifying dyslexia among children through interventions such as school screening for early support.
He emphasised that the ministry would adopt multi-sensory and differentiated teaching strategies.
He stated that the ministry would create a national database on learning disabilities to guide policy, track progress and allocate resources.
Transform narrative
The Founder and Executive Director of the ADO, Rosalin Abigail Kyere-Nartey, said Dyslexia affected one in five people, representing 20 per cent of the country’s population.
She urged the government to invest in research and teacher training, namely in pre-service and in-service training.
‘’Learning to read at 17 marked the start of a challenging yet enlightening journey.
It was only when I turned 30 that I was formally diagnosed with dyslexia,” she shared her experience.
She said it was the ADO’s mission to transform the narrative of dyslexia from one of difficulty to one of hope and empowerment.
She called on individuals and organisations to offer support through financial contributions, volunteer efforts and advocacy about dyslexia and its impact.
