‘Don’t Prevent Children From Speaking Local Language’
The eastern Regional Minister, Mr Eric Kwakye Darfuor has called on the management of schools to desist from prohibiting the speaking of local languages in their schools.
According to him, the prohibition made it difficult for students and pupils to learn and appreciate their own language adding that most times they were prevented from speaking the language which identifies them as Ghanaians.
"Much attention is focused on the speaking and learning of foreign languages especially English to the detriment of our own," he said.
The minister said there was the need for management of schools to come up with innovative ways of making pupils learn and speak their own languages well.
Mr Kwakye Darfuor made the statements during the Nyasapo Festival organised by the Eastern regional branch of the Centre for National Culture.
The festival themed: "Ghana at 60: Exhibiting togetherness in our collective identity through local language" sought to bring together students and pupils from different schools in the region to imbibe in them the ideals and affluent nature of Ghanaian language.
Students and pupils from different schools in Koforidua displayed and performed through drama and recited poems in the local languages to depict the Ghanaian culture.
Mr Darfuor noted that "it is not to say that, it is good to speak other language, but it is more convenient to be able to write, read and express one's self fluently, as a result of which one can communicate in any other language excellently."
He therefor stressed the need for students and pupils to learn to speak their own language to enable them to grow to understand each other and coordinate in future to ensure the development of the country.
Advising the students and pupils, Mr Darfuor urged them to eschew bad counsel and stick to good morals and courtesy with which success and higher heights could be reached.
The Regional Minister commended the Centre for National Culture for organising the festival and appealed to them to organise the festival at the region level to enable students to perform in the various local languages in the region.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture, Mr Stephen Sedofu appealed to the government and other stakeholders to come to their aid and help it complete its building project.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu-Nyarko, Koforidua.
Source: Ghanaian Times.