Ohio University (OU), USA, is now offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the Asante Twi of the Akan language of Ghana.

On the tertiary institution’s website, it underlined, “Over 40% of the Ghanaian population speak various dialects of Akan, a language featured in literature and often chosen by students interested in doing research in Ghana or applying for a Fulbright grant to do research in Ghana.”

The Asante Twi programme is available to students through the African Studies and Linguistics departments at OU.

“The choice of this variety of the Akan language is primarily because of the literary attention given to it in Ghana and the fact that the dialects of the Twi variety (Asante and Akuapem) are mutually intelligible,” OU explained.

“Twi and Fante (a variety of the Akan language, spoken in the western and Coastal areas) are also mutually intelligible. It is in quintessence the most popular language in the country, spoken by a majority of the people. Visitors to Ghana should have no problem communicating with the people if they know English (The official language) and Twi.”

The US university highlighted how it was going to teach the West African language which “belongs to the Kwa subdivision of the Niger–Congo group of African languages”.

It said, “OHIO language courses focus on all aspects of the language: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Our language model also emphasizes the importance of culture. Language students not only learn Akan but also understand its deep connections to the culture, history, traditions, and societal norms of the people who speak it.

“OHIO Akan language courses focus on the language's structure and how to communicate effectively while also exploring customs, beliefs, values, arts, literature, cuisine, social norms, and historical events that have shaped the language and its speakers. This approach helps students communicate more effectively and appropriately in various social and cultural contexts.”

Asante Twi is the mostly spoken by the Asantes of middle Ghana, whose head the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.