The Importation of Language into Ghana

Ghanaians are well-enlightened people and they do respect law and order. We are peace loving people so in general despite the minor differences in languages, we love ourselves and are more aware than many people in West Africa that we come from the same country. Whether an individual is a Moslem or a Christian, a Buddhist or Hindu, he tends to adhere to the basic principle that he hails from the land ruled by Kings whom we still adore. Many people see themselves as Ghanaians first, before they think of religious affiliation, which is the other way round in certain countries, such as Nigeria and many countries elsewhere in the world, where religious violence is rampant.

If Ghana chooses one language like Akan (one specific in writing but others to be spoken) to educate their children with, it will certainly increase their productivity and also the excellent rise in IQ will be seen.

With the use of this one language a person can train his grandmother or grandfather at home two weeks to work and participate in a war factory or a soap factory or a factory where labour is in shortage. One needs a few minutes to explain and even though she may not have education when one explains everything to her about voting, one will not have to strive to talk too much before she understands. For example, “Maame popa weiho na fato ha” will be understood by these old people who could be working to help build the shambles of economy after war incident or a catastrophe that has occurred.

Why English is not the ideal language is that we do not have Englishmen or women living among us to help us develop this widely-used language. A person's knowledge of English, even after the university education, is not perfect. In order to be perfect, one has to think and scratch the brain so much so that many people find it uncomfortable to talk when the assignment does not require that this language should be employed. But if given the opportunity to use Akan (Ashanti), a person can easily speak like Akan and will understand this language just like Akan and it will easily be made his own without encountering problems. Usually it very difficult to discover a Northerner who has learned Twi whether he is Akan or not.

A person who has employed Akan to study up to the sixth grade will be like a secondary school leaver. A secondary leaver will be like a graduate. A graduate like a professor. A professor like.... one cannot compare (in my opinion).

Why the aeroplanes and other such complicated machines were able to be developed was that these people used their own blood language which flows in their veins and it was also possible because of science. Science language is made of concepts and one needs these concepts before one can perform well. (Think about Germans, because they used their language, in addition to the employment of science, with a little effort they have beaten the English in the Exact Sciences and other areas (in my opinion). These countries increased the number of writers, scientists, artists, etc when they reverted to their use of vernaculars. Since they educate themselves with their German language (which is the major language among many just like the Akan among many languages), the Germans do not make unnecessary mistakes when writing, speaking or carrying out responsibilities.

Two things must be remembered or kept in mind: The use of the Akan will help us to increase productivity and the IQ of Ghanaians students will be higher. With the use of Akan as our education language, in the next 50-100 years, our children will learn faster, think faster, and would possess a higher IQ like a Japanese or an English (in my opinion). We shall gain tremendous self-confidence. Compare our brothers who study to become mechanics and able to graduate within a year. Some of these mechanists can just listen to the noise a car makes and they could tell exactly what is wrong with this car. Don't we beat many countries in the world when we play football match against them? Haven't we beaten the USA before? Aren't we capable of competing with major leagues in Europe and do not come home loosing 20 goals? Why are we capable of either beating them or may be lose only a goal? This indicates that talents play a greater role in this world. And talents develop to a higher degree or mature when a person employs the blood language. Or a language that is natural with him. With the use of Akan (and the rigorous employment of science) our talented students will be capable of doing wonders in the classroom and in the field. Abba, we shall excel in all fields!

But if we shall continue to import a language from abroad to educate ourselves, the cost may be too high. And the truth is that we do not have the resources for that. We need to utilise a domestic language to reduce the cost of students we see them as failures when they could have been the Albert Einstein, Dr. J. B. Danquah, Dr. Nkrumah, Emmanuel Kant, and many others