Teach local language to preserve  culture

The New Juaben South Municipal Cultural Officer, Ms Richill Aniwaa Appiah, has called on parents to make a conscious effort to teach their children Ghanaian languages at home to preserve the country’s culture and improve pupils’ performance in local language subjects.

According to her, many parents now communicate with their children mainly in English, a trend that is making it difficult for many pupils to understand, speak and write their mother tongue.

She noted that recent assessments show many children are struggling in local language lessons, while some even feel shy speaking their native language.

She described the situation as worrying and stressed the need for parents to encourage their children to speak their local languages.

Ms Appiah made the call at this year’s Nyansapo Afahye organised by the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Koforidua.

The festival, held on the theme: ‘Promoting Our Culture Through Our Mother Tongue,’ brought together pupils from seven schools in the municipality to compete in proverb recitation, Adinkra symbol identification, idiomatic expressions and old-time songs.

At the end of the competition, Brentford International Academy emerged winners, with Freeman Methodist ‘A’ Basic School placing second, while Nana Kwaku Boateng “B” Basic School came third.

Ms Appiah stressed that language is an important part of a people’s identity and helps define Ghanaians as a nation.

She urged parents and communities to encourage children to speak their local languages regularly to ensure that Ghana’s rich cultural heritage is preserved.

She added that teaching children proverbs, idiomatic expressions and old-time songs would help them appreciate the beauty and value of their mother tongue.

According to her, such efforts would equip the younger generation with the knowledge and confidence to speak their local languages and inspire them to pass on the language and culture to future generations.

In a speech read on behalf of the Chief Executive of the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly, Mr Ransford Tetteh, assured the Centre for National Culture of the Assembly’s commitment to partnering with the Centre to promote Ghanaian languages and preserve the nation’s cultural heritage.

From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua