Nat’l Tymes News Desk
CALLS are mounting for the removal of the Executive Director of the Bureau of Ghana Languages (BGL), Ebenezer Ahiator, with some Ghanaians questioning his competence and understanding of the broader mandate of the institution.
The critics argue that recent public comments by Mr. Ahiator on Ghana’s language policy raise concerns about whether enough attention is being given to the Bureau’s wider responsibility to develop, promote and preserve the country’s indigenous languages.
According to them, the work of the BGL should go beyond developing and launching orthographies for selected Ghanaian languages.
They argue that while the development of orthographies is important, it should only be part of a broader national effort to ensure that Ghanaian languages are properly documented, taught, promoted and preserved for future generations.
Mr. Ahiator recently told 3News that four additional Ghanaian languages—Ahanta, Kusaal, Likpakpaani and Sisaali—have had their orthographies launched for use in schools.
However, the critics say the development of the orthographies does not automatically mean the languages have been fully introduced into the school system, since further action is required from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education.
They are therefore questioning what measures the BGL is taking to protect Ghanaian languages that are endangered, declining or at risk of extinction.
They believe the Bureau should be leading efforts to document vulnerable languages and develop practical ways to keep them alive, especially among the younger generation.
The critics also want the BGL to make greater use of modern technology to promote Ghanaian languages through children’s books, cartoons, audio programmes, e-books, digital learning applications and other educational materials.
They have also raised concerns about the Bureau’s regional presence, arguing that its limited presence outside Accra and Tamale makes it difficult to effectively coordinate language development and promotion across the country.
According to them, a stronger regional presence would enable the BGL to work more closely with communities where indigenous languages are coming under pressure from dominant local and foreign languages.
The concerns have also revived calls for the BGL to be moved back to the Ministry of Education. Proponents of the proposal argue that much of the Bureau’s work is closely linked to education, particularly language development, the production of teaching and learning materials and the promotion of Ghanaian languages in schools.
They believe placing the BGL under the Ministry of Education would improve coordination between language policy, curriculum development, teacher training and the implementation of indigenous-language education.
The critics are also calling for a comprehensive national strategy to preserve vulnerable Ghanaian languages, with stronger collaboration between the BGL, schools, universities, publishers, technology companies and content creators.
The Bureau was transferred to the Ministry of Education in 1963 but is currently under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
The growing debate has therefore led to calls for greater accountability from the BGL leadership and a clear explanation of how the institution intends to address the country’s wider language challenges.
The critics argue that Ghana’s indigenous languages form an important part of the country’s cultural identity and should not be allowed to decline or disappear because of neglect, inadequate investment or weak institutional attention.
The debate also touches on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto, which contains proposals on the use of Ghanaian languages as mediums of instruction, particularly at the lower-primary level.
Critics of Mr. Ahiator argue that the head of the BGL should have a strong understanding of national language policy and the government’s policy direction, including manifesto commitments that affect the work of the Bureau.
They insist that the BGL’s mandate should not be reduced to the development and launching of orthographies, but should include a more active national effort to preserve Ghana’s linguistic heritage and make indigenous languages relevant in the digital age.
They are therefore calling on the government to review the leadership and direction of the Bureau and ensure that its leadership has the technical knowledge, vision and commitment required to protect and promote Ghana’s indigenous languages.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
