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In an effort to preserve Ghanaian culture and prevent its eventual extinction, the parliament plans to allow the use of local languages during floor discussions.
Order 63 of the new Standing Orders allows Members of Parliament (MPs) to speak in any of the regional languages, with translation and interpretation offered to guarantee that everyone in attendance understands.
The Eighth Parliament’s fourth session will begin with the second meeting of this initiative.
Speaker of the House Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has affirmed that all necessary preparations will be made to ensure a smooth implementation, including the provision of translators and relevant technology.
After the Easter break, the new measure is anticipated to be put into effect.
When Second Deputy Minority Leader Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah made a statement yesterday on the floor of Parliament advocating for the preservation and advancement of the Nzema language, the topic of the use of local languages came up.
The Nzema language is one of the 11 regional languages covered in the curriculum for the basic and senior high school grades, according to Mr. Buah, who is also the National Democratic Congress MP for Ellembele in the Western Region.
Regretfully, there is cause for concern as interest in teaching and studying the language in our educational institutions is sharply declining, even though the language is at a very high level of development.
Members responded to this by calling for the use of local languages in basic schools in order to promote the languages and provide proper understanding of the various subjects.
They said that science classes, including chemistry, ought to be able to be taught in the native tongues, much like the Asia Tigers.
The Speaker then ordered that the statement be referred for a decision to be made to the committees on education, culture, tourism, and finance.
The referral is intended to give the Ghana Education Service the opportunity to adopt the idea of utilizing the language in lower primary or basic education, promote Ghanaian tourism and culture, and take financial considerations into account.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
