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Charity In Language Also Begins At Home, Nana

Feature Article Charity In Language Also Begins At Home, Nana
MAY 23, 2017 LISTEN

It was pleasant news to many when H.E. Nana Addo announced the proposal to make the study of French important in second cycle schools. Our ability to communicate with and share ideas with our neighbors sound exciting, hence the favorable response. After all what is the benefit in living with a people but cannot talk to one another or be suspiscious because of the inability to interprete correctly another's intentions and gestures!

So as good is this proposal is the sad situation is that the nation Ghana herself needs this intervention even more. The wise saying states that charity begins from home; Akan the most widely-used local language in Ghana, states that, "Yebô dam firi fie." (One's madness, for sure starts from home).

The about two scores of Ghana languages that have been trimmed to about six to date can still be trimmed down to one, if the single foreign English has been accepted and used by us all this while. In an era when Ghana is seriously looking at the campaign for local entrepreneurship in all endeavors, what could be more appropriate for its success than an easier/improved communication.

This has better returns than the sometimes-hinted advantage for knowlege of the French language that "in case something happens in Ghana, seeking refuge in our surrounding French countries will not pose a problem!" A better communication among Ghanaians would surely boost business and hence eliminate any fear of conflicts and conflagration in Ghana.

The One Ghana and One Language campaign started some years ago is received some positive response even if not yet in funding support. A common local language will among others eliminate the fear workers entertain when they are faced with transfers, or have to share their opinions/ideas in public. Help make our already widely-used Akan language be the language of a people in a nation with a common destiny.

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