International Mother Language Day - Review language policy, retool Bureau of Ghana Languages to promote indigenous languages

Article 39, clause 3 of the 1992 Constitution enjoins the state to “foster the development of Ghanaian languages and pride in Ghanaian culture”. 

However, one wonders if the state is truly performing her responsibility as far as this constitutional provision is concerned.

There is little or no commitment on the part of the government to come out with comprehensive policies and programmes to promote our indigenous languages.

In November 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) declared February 21 as the International Mother Language Day.

This day was instituted to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, multilingualism and to highlight greater awareness of the importance of mother language education.

The institution of the day was also to bring to the fore strategies nations can adopt to save their various indigenous languages and tap their immense benefits to the fullest. 

Since Ghana attained independence in 1957, there has been a growing concern about the relevance of the language policies incorporated into our educational structure.

This has resulted in frequent policy shifts which have not yielded desired outcomes as far as Ghanaian language education is concerned.

There is still a growing concern about whether the current language policy can help promote our indigenous languages for national development. It is worth mentioning that from the colonial era to date, the language policies have only mandated the use of Ghanaian languages in education to a limited extent.

Ghana has about 73 indigenous languages of which 12 are studied and examinable in schools and colleges. Needless to say, a lot needs to be done to have a comprehensive study of the remaining non-examinable Ghanaian languages on board the educational curricula in our educational institutions and to promote the already examinable ones.

As a nation, we have as an important step towards this desirable transformation process the need to produce textbooks in the Ghanaian languages from kindergarten to tertiary institutions and also to train teachers to teach these languages.

This readily brings to mind the Bureau of Ghana Languages in the development and promotion of our indigenous languages.

However, the BGL, which is the only government department mandated to write and publish books exclusively in the Ghanaian Languages as a way of promoting our indigenous languages, is unable to deliver effectively because of understaffing, insufficient funds, inadequate logistics among other pressing needs.

Currently, the Bureau of Ghana Languages has been operating in 12 Ghanaian languages, namely Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi, Dagaare, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, Gonja, Gurune, Kasem, Mfantse and Nzema.

This notwithstanding, the once buoyant department engaged in the development and promotion of Ghanaian languages is now a pale shadow of its former self. 

The theme for this year’s commemoration of International Mother LanguageDay, "Languages matter: Silver Jubilee Celebration of International Mother Language Day" not only celebrates the 25th anniversary of the day, but also highlights the ongoing efforts to promote linguistic diversity, safeguard endangered languages and foster multilingual education.

It encourages people worldwide to continue advocating the preservation of their mother tongues and work towards creating inclusive societies that embrace cultural diversity.

As we commemorate the silver jubilee of International Mother Language Day, let us feel proud of our indigenous languages.

Undoubtedly, our languages are our identity and it is essential to revitalise them to guarantee the continuity and transmission of culture and heritage.

The current language policy which mandates the use of Ghanaian languages to a limited extent needs to be reviewed to encourage the maximum use of indigenous languages in our educational institutions and socio-economic lives. 

As the government has commenced the process of transforming education in Ghana, the issue of making Ghanaian languages mandatory subjects in senior high schools should be seriously considered.

This, arguably, will help equip the students who wish to become teachers in the implementation of the use of Ghanaian languages as a medium of instruction in the lower primary schools.

The Bureau of Ghana Languages should be adequately resourced to deliver on its mandate by way of writing more Ghanaian language books for use by schools and reducing more indigenous languages to writing.

This clarion call goes to the government, policymakers, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to rise to the challenge and promote our indigenous languages for national development and unity in diversity.

In everything we do as a nation, let us not forget that language is culture and a neglect of one’s language, is a neglect of one’s culture. 

 Bureau of Ghana Languages
 E-mail: avusco@gmail.com