Former National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and Presidential aspirant, Bernard Mornah has disclosed his intention to designate Akan as the official language of Ghana should he be elected President in the forthcoming December 7 elections.
During an interview on Adom TV’s morning show, Badwam, Mr. Mornah suggested a multilingual strategy, with Akan serving as the national language, Ga as the predominant language in Accra, and Hausa for interregional communication within West Africa. He further elaborated that English and French would be considered elective under his leadership.
“My government will have three languages, one is Akan as the national language. And if you are in Accra, Ga the mother tongue will be the focus and Hausa can be spoken across West Africa. English and French will be optional,” he said.
Bernard Mornah contended that Ghana’s dependence on English, a foreign language, as the official language has impeded national advancement. He posits that embracing an indigenous language like Akan could bolster cultural affinity and progress, akin to developed nations such as Japan, France, China, Germany, Belgium, and India, which officially utilize their native languages.
“One of the reasons why we are not progressing as a country is that a foreign language is our official tongue. So we have to learn the language to be able to progress in other aspects of our lives. But if you look at other countries and the level of development between them and their country, it shows that there is a level of connection between your language and your level of development.
“But for us when you go to school our local language is termed as vernacular and is not accepted. So most people who have great minds and cannot learn the English language are being sidelined,” he added.
