Today is Ghana Independence Day- Ghana @65. As I celebrate today, I am reminded of what Dr. Kwame Nkrumah told our nation on 6 March 1957.
He said, “….we are prepared to lay our foundation – our own African personality…we are going to create our own African personality and identity.”
As I reflect on the entire speech and focus on these words, I can’t help but think that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s idea and dream of our African personality and identity did not include the erosion of our languages. I do not believe he meant for Ghanaians to travel and settle so deeply in other lands that our children no longer understood “Wo ho te sɛn?” or the value of our proverbs. Language is a foundational piece in culture, traditions, and customs.
I love that we are loving and versatile people who can be found anywhere in the world. We must not forget our identity, must not forget our culture, customs, and traditions, no matter how far we are from home.
Today on the 65th anniversary of our independence, let us reflect and renew our commitment. What is our Ghanaian personality, and our Ghanaian identity? Do we leave it in Ghana or only share it with those born there? Or do we embrace it so our children and grandchildren in the diaspora value it also?
Let’s Learn Twi is my commitment and contribution to Ghana. I want to help address the fact that many of the younger generations of Ghanaians in the diaspora are losing Twi, Ga, Ewe, Nzema, you name it. We need more resources and more intentionality in teaching and passing down our languages.
“Let’s Learn Twi: Alphabet” is the beginning of a dream I have. We must recognize and teach the beauty, power, and nuance in our languages, our customs, our traditions. Our languages are just as special and powerful as the romance languages we spend resources and time on to teach our children.
It is my hope that this personal commitment and journey will resonate not only with my fellow Ghanaians but with those who love Ghana. The Year of the Return doubled Ghana tourism.
We are on the top of lists for places to visit, a peaceful nation, the kindest people, and so much more. Let us also be known as people whose rich and diverse customs, traditions, and languages, are not traded away, but are passed down, embraced, and shared, from generation to generation.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, GHANA. GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA, NOW AND FOREVERMORE.
Original article appeared on Abigail Osei’s LinkedIn page on 6 March 2022.