A social media Gonja language writer and activist, Pentu Kofi Hafiz a native of Bole in the Savannah Region expresses worry over the negative attitude of native speakers of the Ghanaian language in the Savannah region of Ghana.
According to him, one of the ways of preserving culture is through language but local languages in Ghana especially Gonja, Vagla and other languages in the Savannah region of the country are beginning to lose their grip and may loose their value in the next 50 years.
At present Ghanaian children are taught for the first five years of school in their own language while they are gradually exposed to the the English language, before shifting to English as medium of instruction in the upper primary and beyond.
Using a bilingual (Ghanaian language and English) methodology, the country is implementing a policy to promote teaching pupils in kindergarten through primary grade three to read and write in their local language – one of 11 selected Ghanaian languages – while introducing them to spoken English, and by grade two, to written English.
The approach is designed to be a transitional one in which local language literacy is used as a bridge to English literacy.
However, in recent times there have been a major cause of worry among educationists, linguists and some members of parliament over the ineffectiveness of this policy.
The Speaker of Parliament and other Members of the Legislature are the latest to express their displeasure over growing neglect of local languages, particularly in schools across the country.
For Teacher Kofi as Pentu Kofi Hafiz is affectionately, the growing trend is as a result of failure of policy makers to invest in languages and the training of professionals to salvage this disturbing development.
He also noted that some parents and education officials continue to agitate for English to be used as the medium of instruction from the start which he considers as activities that thwart efforts to promote local languages in the country.
Reflecting on the promotion of Gonja as a Ghanaian language, he said “the only way to preserve it is through speaking, reading and writing, even the only institution with a unit in Ghana that promotes the study of Gonja has been abundoned and no one cares what happens to the Gonja language. Visit the University of Education, Winneba (Ajumako campus) and you will see a decline in a previously large number of students studying Gonja.”
“But for other tribes and students from other regions, they are able to consolidate their gains and hence you won’t see a major decline comparably. Most of these tribes are sponsored, encouraged and secured lucrative jobs after their study. The Gonja unit was part of other languages established in 1992 at the university college of languages education at Ajumako, currently the Gonja language can be studied as a single course or major and combined with a minor ( English, German, French, Linguistics, Ga, Ewe etc. ) but the numbers are not encouraging,” he lamented.
He added saying “the study of Gonja was started by Mr J.W.K Amankwa ( From Abrumase ) and The late Damangowura Jakpa Lermu at Ajumako. The main aims and objectives of the Gonja unit are : i. To reinforce the students proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing of Gonja.
ii. To guide the students to analyse and appreciate the Gonja cultural system and also teach at Basic, secondary and training colleges of the country.
“The unit have over the years produced a quite number of personalities who in one way or the other contributed and still contributing in diverse ways in the development of Savannah region but the some of the challenges of this unit includes disrespect for the study of the language ( Gonja ), No Autography ( WAEC and NTC ), inadequate reading materials ( all relevant books in manuscript , lack of personels and employment for students after study.”
He noted the need to salvage the Gonja language before it fully loses its value in the coming year and has implored stakeholders to intervene.
“I humbly appeal to the overlord and King of Gonjaland, Jira Yagbonwura Biikunuto Jewu Soale, the Ministry of Education, Gonjaland Youth Association and all stakeholders to find possible remedies to these challenges as Gonjaland Youth Association Congress and Anniversary of the Overlord approaches.”