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Is It Twi Or English Mr. President

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 Source: Ghanaian Lens

Is it possible President Kufuor is spectacularly arrogant, or worse he is in bed with some of his party activists who have already decided willy-nilly to impose Twi as our national language, regardless.

At the 6th People’s Assembly in Sunyani last week, President Kufuor addressed the nation in a question and answer session. The audience in the hall was predominantly of Akan origin. However, the entire proceeding was carried live on GTV. The president and his advisors were aware of the TV presence.

Why then did our President decide to answer the questions exclusively in Twi, knowing that the whole nation was listening in? If the assembly session was meant for Sunyani alone, why televise it nationwide?

There is nothing wrong with the President speaking Twi to a predominantly Akan audience, but when the subject matter is of national interest, delivered by the President of Ghana, and carried live on TV nationwide then it is wrong to speak Twi, Mr. President.

You may be an Akan and proud of your heritage, but you are first and foremost the President and Commander-in-chief of all the tribes of Ghana. Therefore when you address us as your ‘subjects’ it is incumbent on you and your advisors to ensure that we all understand you, and that means speaking the national language which is still ENGLISH.

English is one of the three core subjects in our national school curriculum. It is the language in which our kids are in instructed in the liberal arts and sciences.

English is the language in which we conduct international affairs and trade negotiations. It is also the most popular language on our planet. Why bastardize it?

These days it has become unfashionable to speak proper English and anyone who dares speak proper English is said to be “too know”.

Our Foreign Affairs Minister, Nana Akufo Addo, is despised by many in the NPP because he speaks the English language better than all the leading members of the NPP. For this reason, some even call him arrogant.

Lately there has been a concerted push by a section of the NPP leadership, apparently with the tacit approval of the NPP government, to rubbish and bastardize the English language. Clearly, their aim is to impose Twi on this nation as our national language. They call themselves nationalists or reformers. These shallow minded, semi illiterate reformers with questionable diplomas from bogus institutions overlook to two basic requirements for a national language. Besides such a language being widely spoken, it must also be written. That means all our text books, parliamentary documents, Police and Court reports, company accounts and balance sheets must be written and published in TWI.

Oh, and the national dailies too. Are they ready for that?

A word of advise to those quack reformer; please engage your brains before opening your mouths.

Source: Ghanaian Lens