The Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, Theresa Tagoe has called on the youth in the country to hold on to the local dialects of their communities rather than speaking Pidgin English. She made particular reference to the speaking of the Ga language by the youth in the region. Madam Theresa Tagoe who is also the Member of parliament (MP) for Ablekumah South was speaking at the launch of a Ga book titled - "Ke mi akase Ga" - which literally means study Ga with Me at Teshie in Accra.
The book was written by a senior auditor of the Ghana Audit Service, Raphael Quaye-Mensah Laryea to act as an eye opener to the Ga language in a form that makes it easily readable. Mr. Laryea said the book has been translated into simple English both written and on CD’s. He appealed to the GES to make the study of Ga and Dangme compulsory in the region from kindergarten to Junior High School level. Mr. Laryea said the Ga language is experiencing a setback due to the fact that there are limited books for studying the basics of the language.
He noted that language is the core of any culture and that the death of any language will mean the premature death of the culture which evolves around the language and this should not be permitted.
The Director of Obonu FM, Nii Annan Patapaa, who is also the special assistant to the Director General of GBC emphasized the need to sell Ghanaian traditions and culture including language to the rest of the world. He pledged Obonu Fm’s readiness to project the valuable traditions, customs and culture of the Ga’s and Dangme’s. The Dean of Consul’s, Nii Amarkai Amarteifio praised the author for a good work and entreated Ga Dangme’s not to give up their names as it is the only way to trace their roots.
