[lg policy] Ghana celebrates International Mother Language Day

[Harold Schiffman]

*Dr. Avea Ephraim Nosh, a Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba
(UEW), Department of Gur-Gonja Languages Education, has called on
lecturers, students to collectively work with politicians and other
stakeholders in education to ensure that children continue to benefit from
their mother tongue in a much improved manner.[image: wpid-ghana20flag.jpg]
<http://www.spyghana.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/wpid-ghana20flag.jpg>*

Dr. Nosh made the called in a presentation delivered on the topic “Are
indigenous Languages still relevant in the current dispensation?” at a
durbar as part of this year’s International Mother Language Day Celebration
held at the College of Languages Education, UEW Ajumako Campus.

The celebration was on the theme “Inclusion in and through Language
Education counts”, was attended by personalities including, chiefs in the
area led by the Paramount Chief Ajumako Traditional Council Nana Ogeabo
Ababio Hammah, lecturers of the UEW, students and other stakeholders in
education.

The General Conference of the United Nations Education, Scientific and
Culture Organization (UNESCO) in November, 1999 declared 21st February
every year as the International Mother Language Day aimed at promoting
awareness of linguistic and culture diversity, multilingualism and above
all, to promote and indemnify the linguistic rights of individuals
specially children across member countries.

The United Nations General Assembly on 16th May, 2009 endorsed it
compelling all member countries “to promote the preservation and protection
of all languages used by peoples of the world” which fortunately, these
international conventions found expression and space in Ghana’s national
laws including the language policy in education and in the 1992
constitution, he added.

Dr. Nosh said on International Mother Language Day it was legitimate to
seek answers to the questions why thousands of BECE and WASCE graduates
should be denied admission into the higher institutions when they pass
Kasem, Asante or Ewe but fail the English language, a situation in which
the young ones were deny opportunities because of artificially created
languages barriers, which were inexhaustible and heart breaking.

“The day reminds us of the responsibility to our children with respect to
the use of language in education and we cannot talk of inclusive education
when thousands of children are excluded from education simply because they
speak a particular language from some part of the county or just that they
cannot pass some foreign language examination, these are discrimination and
the constitution of the country frowns on them,” he added.

He said there was no doubt about the relevance of indigenous languages in
the present day of “our” country or even the current global setting whereby
we have to accept the fact that the we have gone a long way but much more
needs to be done.

According to him, as a people, we have to realize that our attitudes to
mother tongue worldwide is not different from what is seen in the country
and for that matter policy makers should speed up with the language policy.

Earlier in the day students from various tribes at the University dressed
in their tribal costumes, amidst drumming and dancing to portray the rich
culture and traditions, as well as entertain the gathering.

GNA


 <http://www.spyghana.com/author/ghana-news-agency/>
Ghana News Agency <http://www.spyghana.com/author/ghana-news-agency/>
The Ghana news Agency (GNA) was established on March 5, 1957, i.e. on the
eve of Ghana's independence and charged with the "dissemination of truthful
unbiased news". It was the first news agency to be established in
Sub-Saharan Africa. GNA was part of a comprehensive communication policy
that sought to harness the information arm of the state to build a viable,
united and cohesive nation-state. GNA has therefore been operating in the
unique role of mobilizing the citizens for nation building, economic and
social development, national unity and integration.
<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ghana-News-Agency/153882108007481>
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