Ghana is not ready for national language debate - Kyere

Mr Kwabena Kyere, Deputy Minister of Education, says the debate for a national language should be shelved for a later date as it may jeopardise national unity.

Answering a question at a seminar on Adult Literacy in Accra, he said the nation is in the process of consolidating its unity and development and nothing should be allowed to divert that course. The seminar, which was organised by the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED), brought together over 60 representatives of religious organisations, Ministry of Education, publishing houses and the media to evaluate the adult literacy programme. The Deputy Minister said in spite of the fact that there exists a widely spoken language that could be chosen as national language, the legitimate fear by minority ethnic groups of losing their identity could not be ignored. "Language in itself creates a sense of belonging and identity among a people", he said.

The Rev. Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Secretary-General of the Christian Council of Ghana, said "even if we need to have a national language we should not confine ourselves to one." He said under no circumstances should a language be developed at the expense of the other because people think better in their natural tongues. Rev. Dr Aboagye-Mensah said "it is funny that a foreign language like English has kept us united all this while."