Ga language under threat of decline as children shy away from speaking it – Sylvester Mensah
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana EXIM Bank, Sylvester Adinam Mensah, has warned that the Ga language faces growing pressure as some children hesitate to speak it and others cannot speak it at all.
Ghana EXIM Bank's Chief Executive Officer, Sylvester Adinam Mensah, cautioned that the Ga language is facing a decline as children are becoming reluctant to speak it, and some are unable to speak it entirely. Addressing the 10th anniversary celebration of Latenu Radio in La, Mr Mensah emphasized the growing cosmopolitan nature of Accra, which underscores the importance of families and community institutions in transmitting the language to younger generations.
"Many of our children understood it, but hesitated to speak it. Some cannot speak it at all," he noted. The former La Dadekotopon MP stressed that language is integral to a people's knowledge, identity, and sense of belonging. "Language is not just a way of speaking; it is a way of seeing," he told the attendees. "A people who lose their language slowly lose their memory, and a people without memory can easily lose their way."
Mr Mensah commended Latenu Radio for its use of Ga in news, music, and discussions over the past decade, urging the station to continue its efforts and create programs to assist those who have lost the ability to speak Ga to learn or reconnect with their language. The station celebrated its anniversary with an event where it awarded individuals recognized for their contributions to communities in La and the broader Ga traditional region.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
