Enhancing Clinical Competence through Akan Proficiency: Perspectives of Medical Students in Ghana

Abstract

In 2020, the University of Cape Coast’s School of Medical Sciences introduced the Akan proficiency course to address linguistic disconnects usually observed during community-based experience and service rotations. This study adopts an interpretive phenomenological design to explore medical students’ perspectives on how the course enhances their clinical competence. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. The findings reveal a significant evolution in student perceptions: the course was initially viewed as an academic burden and a form of linguistic imperialism but later seen as an indispensable clinical tool for professional practice. The course facilitated access to localised disease terminologies and was crucial to building trust and psychological comfort. However, students found the course’s short duration challenging and expressed the need for more practical sections. Based on these results, recommendations for strengthening this language-based medical education initiative have been offered for consideration.