Sixty four years of independence, the status of our Ghanaian Languages

Sampson L.K. Yekple and Iddrisu Alhassan Sibdow
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Sampson L.K. Yekple: Department of Languages,Ewe Unit,St. Teresa’s College of Education, Hohoe, Ghana
Iddrisu Alhassan Sibdow: Department of Languages, Dagbani Unit,Tamale College of Education, Tamale, Ghana

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2021, vol. 5, issue 5, 22-30

Abstract: The performance of Ghanaian Languages (GHLs) during the post-colonial Ghana has been in the hands of political parties and their ideological orientation. This paper looks at the trend of performance of the GHLs during the colonial era and arguably challenges the efforts of the successive military and democratic governments over the sixty four years of independence. The declaration of independence and freedom from the colonial masters was expected to grant performance rights to the languages. The paper found that governments paid leap services to the promotion of the GHLs as compared with the Guggisberg’s colonial era. Participation in the enactment and implementation of language policies has been limited to only government appointed elites. The general society equate success in education, employment, respect and prestige to the ability to speak English hence not giving due credit to the GHLs. The paper concludes that Ghana as a sovereign state has not done much after attaining independence though some improvement has been chalked. The paper hence suggest among others, the passing of a bill in parliament which becomes a legislative instrument for the language policy to put finality to the struggle. This instrument will further enjoin the legislature, the judiciary, the executive and the citizenry to perform various roles to ensure better performance of the GHLs in education and media.

Date: 2021
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