Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has once again pushed for stronger support to promote Ghana’s local languages in schools.
He warned that the country could lose an important part of its identity if leaders do not act quickly.
He called on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to expand programmes that encourage students to learn and use indigenous languages.
He explained that such steps are necessary to protect Ghana’s cultural and linguistic heritage.
Bagbin expressed concern that younger generations are gradually abandoning local languages. He said this trend puts national identity at risk and could lead to the slow disappearance of many indigenous tongues.
He also stressed that many languages carry deep history, traditions, and knowledge systems. If people fail to protect them, these valuable cultural assets could vanish over time.
The First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, delivered the message on his behalf during Parliament’s May Day celebration on Monday, May 4, 2026.
In the speech, Bagbin urged a broader approach to language preservation. He said schools alone cannot carry the responsibility.
He encouraged families, communities, and public institutions to play active roles in keeping local languages alive and passing them on to children.
“More must be done to ensure that these languages do not just thrive and escape extinction. Our local languages must become integral parts of our daily lives, interwoven into our education, work, and socialisation. I call on all Ghanaians to focus on teaching their children the local languages.”
The May Day event brought together lawmakers, labour representatives, and other stakeholders. They discussed national issues such as education, culture, and the future of Ghana’s workforce.
