Learning Local Languages Promotes Understanding of Traditions and Culture.
Daniel Kabu Narteh, a retired Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) examiner, has encouraged residents in the Greater Accra Region to learn the Ga Language as a way of embracing the culture of their host region.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Narteh debunked the notion that learning the Ga language was difficult, stating that it has the same basics and principles as other local languages.
He emphasized the importance of learning local languages, not only for better communication but also for a sense of belonging and understanding of traditions and culture. Narteh urged parents to speak their local languages with their children at home to prevent the extinction of these languages.
Narteh also expressed concern over the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education’s inability to retain teachers trained to teach Ga and Dangme in the Greater Accra Region. He highlighted that trained teachers often end up being posted outside the region to teach other subjects, leading to a shortage of teachers for Ga and Dangme in the region.
This trend, according to Narteh, forces schools to either remove Ghanaian languages from their subjects or teach Akan, as teachers for Akan are more readily available in Greater Accra. He emphasized the importance of retaining teachers trained in local languages to promote the teaching and learning of these languages in schools.