Posts in category: Top Stories

The National Coordinator of the Deaf Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Peter Reuben Wuni, has urged sign language interpreters to deepen their understanding of the deaf community and see their work as a sacred bridge between the deaf and the hearing church.

Speaking at the Sign Language Interpreters Conference 2025 at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh on the topic, “Working with the Deaf: Things to Know,” Pastor Wuni acknowledged that the work of interpreters is demanding because of contextual and cultural variations across the world. He shared candid insights into the expectations of the deaf community, explaining that the deaf do not always understand everything that is interpreted to them.

“The deaf wish interpreters would improve upon their craft and listen to their suggestions. Many interpreters are proud of their ability to interpret, but often, people cannot understand what they are interpreting,” he said.

Expressing his gratitude to God for the progress made in the church’s engagement with the deaf community, Pastor Wuni noted that twenty years ago, there was nothing like professional sign language interpreters in the Church. He also commended the national coordinator for spearheading the conference, describing it as “a significant step towards inclusivity and excellence in ministry.”

According to the deaf pastor, the demand for professional interpreters is growing as prominent people are now employing their services. He, however, observed that collaboration between interpreters and the deaf community in Africa remains limited compared to other parts of the world.

“The most important thing is that interpreters should have the heart to meet the needs of deaf consumers,” he emphasised.

He expressed concern that some interpreters deviate from their core purpose of bridging the communication gap between the deaf and the hearing, saying, “This work is not about competition. Accept criticism in good faith. The deaf want to fully participate in church services; they want to grow and serve. After interpreting, fellowship with them. Keep their information confidential; don’t discuss their issues publicly, or they will stop coming to church.”

Pastor Wuni further advised interpreters to build genuine relationships with the deaf rather than viewing them as projects to fix.

“Interact with the deaf so it doesn’t look like you love sign language but not deaf people. Be patient and flexible when communicating with them,” he said, adding, “Bridge their communication gap; don’t pity them.”

Concluding his presentation, Pastor Wuni urged interpreters to see themselves as channels through whom the deaf can experience God.

“Improve your interpreting skills and make the deaf hear God’s voice through you. The Bible says the deaf will hear – and that will happen through the interpreter,” he affirmed.

PENT NEWS

The Executive Director of the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) and disability rights advocate, Mr Juventus Duorinaah, Esq., has underscored the importance of ethics and professionalism in sign language interpretation, describing the service of interpreters as “an indispensable bridge between the deaf and the hearing world.”

He charged participants at the Sign Language Interpreters Conference 2025 taking place at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh.

Speaking on the topic, “Ethics of Sign Language Interpreting,” Mr Duorinaah highlighted that the contribution of interpreters to the lives of the deaf community is “immeasurable.”

He stated: “Expertise is very important in translation. In translation, ethics are equally important—you must avoid anything that will constitute an abuse of rights to anybody.”

He charged interpreters to adhere strictly to professional principles and codes of conduct. Ethics, he said, “make our work professionally credible because sign language interpreting is a professional vocation. It builds trust, ensures fairness, and protects the rights and integrity of clients.”

Lawyer Duorinaah further admonished interpreters to maintain the highest standards of integrity and honesty.

“Say exactly what you hear. Avoid conflicts of interest, respect deadlines and commitments, and reject gifts or any undue influence,” he advised.

He cautioned against breaches of confidentiality, reminding participants that interpreters are bound by trust, saying, “Learn to keep client information confidential. Do not use information for personal gain, and disclose only with consent, legal obligation, or when safety is at risk.”

He also advised interpreters to accept only assignments within their area of expertise, adding that “if the job exceeds your capability, notify the client immediately.”

He emphasised impartiality and fairness as non-negotiable principles in professional conduct, indicating that the interpreter’s role is to listen and interpret—nothing more

Mr Duorinaah urged interpreters to maintain professional distance and be guided by ethical discipline.

PENT NEWS

A pioneer sign language interpreter and international expert, Mr Marco Stanley Nyarko, who is also a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has called for continuous professional development among sign language interpreters to enhance their effectiveness in communicating God’s word to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

He said this at the Sign Language Interpreters Conference 2025 at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, on Friday, October 17, 2025.

Speaking on the topic, “Sign Language Linguistics,”Mr Nyarko emphasised the need for interpreters to go beyond basic translation to become skilled mediators who bridge communication gaps between the hearing and the deaf community.

“Sign language interpreters need more training to be able to interpret God’s will and Word to PWDs,” he said. “We have to practice more to help us understand the Word.”

He explained that sign language is “a full-fledged natural language, just like spoken language.”He added: “We have English grammar and sign language grammar. Sign language is a visual language developed within the deaf community.”

Mr Nyarko described linguisticsas “the foundation of sign language,” explaining that clarity in sign interpretation depends not only on hand movements but also on facial expressions.

“Signing without facial expression—no deaf person will understand you. The facial expressions make communication clearer,” he said. He encouraged interpreters to learn idiomatic expressions unique to sign language and apply morphology—the structure of signs—to make their communication more meaningful.

“As an interpreter, you have to know how to process and analyse the source language very well so that the deaf can benefit fully,” he noted. “It’s not just translation—you are acting as a mediator to bridge language gaps so the deaf can understand better.”

He further advised interpreters to develop mental agility and creativity in their work. “Think very fast to interpret complex vocabularies,” he urged. “The best practice as an interpreter is to look beyond meaning—think outside the box to interpret the source language accurately.”

He explained that interpreters must consider context, as classroom interpreting differs from church interpreting. He also stressed the importance of conveying not only the message but the emotion and intent of the speaker.

Mr Marco Nyarko concluded by reminding interpreters of their sacred responsibility: “Your duty is to communicate and bridge the communication gap. As an interpreter, you become the eyes, ears, hands, and mouth for the deaf.”

PENT NEWS