Ghana’s Parliament is set to use local languages on the floor to preserve and promote the country’s culture, starting in the second meeting of the fourth session of the Eighth Parliament.
The issue of the use of local languages became topical on the floor of Parliament, yesterday when the Second Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, presented a statement for the promotion and preservation of the Nzema Language.
According to the deputy minority leader, the Nzema language was one of the 11 local languages in the curriculum of the basic and senior high school levels and was examinable, however, it is worrying that, despite the high level of development of the language, interest in the teaching and learning of the language in educational institutions is waning drastically.
Subsequently, the Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, directed that the statement be referred to the committees on Education, Culture, Tourism and Finance for a decision to be taken.
The referral is to enable the Ghana Education Service to embrace the concept of using the language at the basic schools or the lower primary, promote the Ghanaian culture and tourism and look at the financial considerations.
Order 63 of the new Standing Orders allows Members of Parliament to use local languages with interpretation and translation.
The Speaker, assured the necessary facilities, including translators and gadgets, would be in place for a smooth implementation after the Easter break.
The Parliament had previously introduced new Standing Orders, including a daily roll call and the recitation of the national pledge, to enhance attendance credibility, discipline, and patriotism among MPs.
