Is the Ga language is extinct?

Read Article

Comments (91)

This article is closed for comments.

Read Comments Comments (91)

Allotey 12 years ago

Thank u very much my brother and the almighty bless u more than u could think of. Everything u re saying is hundred precent correctly but whom to blame ? Our Ga leards only think of what they will eat today and not the well b ...
read full comment

Thank u very much my brother and the almighty bless u more than u could think of. Everything u re saying is hundred precent correctly but whom to blame ? Our Ga leards only think of what they will eat today and not the well being of the people. I rest my case
bob 12 years ago

henry i told you last week that, the gas has got it fundamentally wrong on ideology. you cannot live on the richest land and be a socialist or what ever it is. the reason be simple as long as accra is the capital more enegert ...
read full comment

henry i told you last week that, the gas has got it fundamentally wrong on ideology. you cannot live on the richest land and be a socialist or what ever it is. the reason be simple as long as accra is the capital more enegertic and ambitious people would make their way there. consevatism in a way can save the indigines a bit for the visitors will be met by the greetings ' this is accra and this how we do things here' not the socialist bullshit that most of the gas jump to' which says that we are nice people come and lets share our lands. henry i can assure in nine out ten the indigines are no much for the immigrants.
Mends, The Lone Ranger. 12 years ago

English is now a lingua franca spoken in almost every corner of the globe, not because it's easy to learn, but, because of the economic power of America. If you want to deal with America then you'll have to learn the English ...
read full comment

English is now a lingua franca spoken in almost every corner of the globe, not because it's easy to learn, but, because of the economic power of America. If you want to deal with America then you'll have to learn the English language. It's no wonder that French, like Ga is dying slowly.
When you come to Ghana Asante Twi is gaining dominance not because it's easy to learn but, because of the economic power and entrepreneurial spirit of the Asantes. Who in his right mind will advertise a product in a language very few people understand? It's therefore not strange that even English adverts are interspersed with twi parlances - ede bii keke.
ZoRRo 12 years ago

He who has the money, indirectly calls the shots. If the Ga lands had been allocated or subsidized for Gas by the chiefs, maybe they will be rich today and promoted their language.

He who has the money, indirectly calls the shots. If the Ga lands had been allocated or subsidized for Gas by the chiefs, maybe they will be rich today and promoted their language.
SENDERO 12 years ago

Bob you make a very good point similar to what I posted some time back on this similar topic

The Gas, at independence, were probably our paramount ethnic group. Based in Accra they were educated, articulate, well-organized ...
read full comment

Bob you make a very good point similar to what I posted some time back on this similar topic

The Gas, at independence, were probably our paramount ethnic group. Based in Accra they were educated, articulate, well-organized an they were capitalists: best example being their women in Makola market

Not surprisingly the mass of the Gas were in the Danquah-Busia camp and their Ga Standfast Association combined elements of Ga nationalism with a desire for capitalism

As a consequence, all in Accra, including Kwahu and Akuapim settlers in particular, learned Ga and were proud to be seen as Gas. Thus names like Ofei, Dodoo, Addo etc, are not Ga names but rather Kwahu and Akuampim names appropriated or assigned to the Ga ethnic group

By the 1980s the Ga had switched camps an were in the anti-capitalist camp. A number of reasons explain this but I think the it was a gradual movement away from capitalism. The Gas came to focus their energy on the civil service an neglected commerce. Thus the public sector in the form of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), ministries etc were the home of the Gas and they moved away from hawking, factory ownership etc. The best symbol was the shift (due to destruction) from Makola to Agbobloshie market - from a Ga dominated enclave to an Akan one. Note Makola has never recaptured its lost glory and no one uses Makola market women as symbols of prosperity as was the case in the 1960s an 1970s

With World Bank structural adjustment came the nail in the coffin - the government sold off all SOEs and cut back on recruitment in the civil service. In these actions, the Ga suffered the most. Now they were out of work yet could not compete with Kwahu, Akuapim and Asante traders who had built up over the decades capital, experience and networks among themselves. As the political economy of Accra changed the Ga an all others now had to learn the language of the new elite - the Akans
nii Laryea 12 years ago

When I see a Ga man make such superficial comment about Ga language becoming exinct, I rather pity him because his observation is based only on emotional sentiments. It is devoid of facts. Gas should blame their woes on the s ...
read full comment

When I see a Ga man make such superficial comment about Ga language becoming exinct, I rather pity him because his observation is based only on emotional sentiments. It is devoid of facts. Gas should blame their woes on the stupid support for the P/NDC, a government and party that has benefited Ewes, northerners, fantis, and ashantis through Paul Victor Obeng. If Gas return to their UP roots, they will learn to be capitalists again and not pseudo socialists chanting P/NDC slogans. Ga is not dead at all and every Ghanaian knows that. Even the ashantis in Accra know that they cannot take Ga away as a language. Accra alone is not Ga. They should remember we have Ga-Dangbe and with our oil in the sea, we can survive as a nation when the right Gas take over. Mark my word.
Ama Badua 12 years ago

Sendero, you have revealed explicitly the facts of the issue. The Ga Chiefs should not bear the whole blame. The educated Gas should bear part of it too. They see the problem and have been doing nothing to solve it. No Gas, a ...
read full comment

Sendero, you have revealed explicitly the facts of the issue. The Ga Chiefs should not bear the whole blame. The educated Gas should bear part of it too. They see the problem and have been doing nothing to solve it. No Gas, and I say it again, no Gas have offered a solution. They only write about the problem. Let's also read about a solution.
K.Y. Asante 12 years ago

Anyone who still considers the Gas as serious people in Ghana should have their head examined. Once you sell your land to "foreigners" you should know you are doomed. Once your land is gone, so follows your culture and langu ...
read full comment

Anyone who still considers the Gas as serious people in Ghana should have their head examined. Once you sell your land to "foreigners" you should know you are doomed. Once your land is gone, so follows your culture and language.

As a Ga, if I sell my house to a Hausa man, I should not expect the new occupants of the house to keep speaking Ga instead of Hausa.

Foreigners have bought Ga lands therefore, the said lands no longer belong to Gas. With the way things are going, I know very soon, the Gas will be wiped-off the political map of Ghana.

You stop selling your land, you will have your identity back otherwise, forget about Ga language and culture.
Nii 12 years ago

Nii Kpakpo infact you have hit the nail right on the head. but where do we go from here as Gas. When the Gas youth woke up from their dreams the only thing they could remember was their land that the chiefs are selling but f ...
read full comment

Nii Kpakpo infact you have hit the nail right on the head. but where do we go from here as Gas. When the Gas youth woke up from their dreams the only thing they could remember was their land that the chiefs are selling but forgot that language is more important cause is the basis on which the gas tribe hangs and not the lands. We need to wake up and start all over again. Especially the issue of teaching Ga language on the basic schools on our ga land. I have a horrible experience on looking for a Ga taught school for my ward in Ablekuma Fan Milk. I will share with you the next time. Once again many thanks. We need to do something now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PASQUIN 12 years ago

THANK YOU, this is a wakeup call. Let us resolve to transform this situstion.

THANK YOU, this is a wakeup call. Let us resolve to transform this situstion.

Frank Agyena-Karikari 12 years ago

I once opened this can of worms and my Ga friends almost lynched me thinking I am an Asante person trying to superimpose Asante language on other tribes. It is difficult to help the situation. If you travel to Guan areas too, ...
read full comment

I once opened this can of worms and my Ga friends almost lynched me thinking I am an Asante person trying to superimpose Asante language on other tribes. It is difficult to help the situation. If you travel to Guan areas too, it looks like the Guan language is dead. Visit Tamale and see how many Dagomba people speak Twi very fluently.
The causes of this is not far fetched. In History, the Asante people conquered much of modern day Ghana. According to Asante Oral tradition, the Asantehene Osi Tutu issued an edict that any tribe that was conquered immediately became part of the Asante Kingdom.(People explain that he did that because his father was from the North. This can be trus because the history books and oral tradition are silent on who his father was.) Thus, among the Akans, they have a law which says "OBI NKYERE OBI ASE". This is translated loosely as nobody should trace to the tribe where one comes from. This led to many conquered stated starting to speak twi.
Another factor is that the Akans just like the Hausa of Nigeria are business people who did itinerant trade. Hausa is widely spoken in Ghana though we do not have Hausa tribe in the country. It spread because of trade. The Akans, particularly the Asantes, Kwahus and Akyem people are good traders, selling all sorts of things wherever they go. So, their language became a medium of trade.
The last factor I will consider is the Akan areas are the richest regions in the country in terms of natural resources. Many from all parts of the country migrated to do gold, Diamond, Timber and Cocoa businesses. In the final analysis, they learnt the language of the Akans for them to be successful. In the case of Accra, the Gas are not that much business-like. So in terms of trade, they have become overwhelmed by the Twi speaking traders. Act a movie in Ga and you will ran at a loss. Songs in Ga and other languages do not fetch much because the Akans have the purchasing power. If it comes to dying languages, it is not only the Gas. I visited my family house at Adukrom a couple of years ago and the first communication with me was in twi. I was surprised even some parents were even communicating with their children in twi. So with the Ga language, hmmm, not much can be done about it so long as Trading and other businesses are done in Twi, and the Akans have the purchasing power.
Concerned 12 years ago

I visited Accra in 2002 and 2008. In 2002 everything was normally but in 2008,I noticed everyone spoke twi and with a good twi accent too.
My point is whilst Frank's point may be right, it has accelerated within the last de ...
read full comment

I visited Accra in 2002 and 2008. In 2002 everything was normally but in 2008,I noticed everyone spoke twi and with a good twi accent too.
My point is whilst Frank's point may be right, it has accelerated within the last decade or so. This is an issue which needs careful and sensitive analysis as it is a very complex issue which permeates the entire Ghanaian society.The whole Ghanaian society in danger of being overhauled by western culture and language.
Nkrumah identified this problem over 50 years ago and cleverly used things like the film industry to manage the problem. Social issues normally are the most complex ones. I think we all agree on the problems but what are the solutions? Burying your head in the sand is not one of them though.
YB 12 years ago

It is interesting that many tribes are trying to speak better English than the Americans and insulting Asantes as being uneducated because of the preference for their Twi. The Gas will extinct like the dinosaurs if they conti ...
read full comment

It is interesting that many tribes are trying to speak better English than the Americans and insulting Asantes as being uneducated because of the preference for their Twi. The Gas will extinct like the dinosaurs if they continue to blame Asantes and other groups for their problems, instead of learning the right things from them. Even some of their noble kins are given funny names like Ayittey Canada, Achorme Hong Kong, etc. Look for solutions to your problems instead of looking for innocent and "easier" targets. A word to the wise!
Visions 12 years ago

Frank, your assertions are right but you left out one important factor which is the Akan population. Akans as an ethnic group out number every tribe in the country which means most other groups will always be a minority in mo ...
read full comment

Frank, your assertions are right but you left out one important factor which is the Akan population. Akans as an ethnic group out number every tribe in the country which means most other groups will always be a minority in most places they may find themselves in Ghana. And as a minority they will have no choice but to learn the language of the majority.

And this is exactly what happened in Accra where Twi speaking groups over the years have outnumber every group including the Gas in Accra since Accra is the capital where all activities take place in Ghana.
ZoRRo 12 years ago

The Akan men are also marrying the beautiful Ga women. They claim they can't speak a word of Ga, so speak Twi with their children, and eat fufu at 6am in the morning. I have a neighbor like that. Where are the Ga men ? Maybe ...
read full comment

The Akan men are also marrying the beautiful Ga women. They claim they can't speak a word of Ga, so speak Twi with their children, and eat fufu at 6am in the morning. I have a neighbor like that. Where are the Ga men ? Maybe in New York, London, and Hamburg. Wake up guys !
Aduanaba 12 years ago

Frank, that is as good a response as you always present on such matters facing our country. I would also add to your contribution, the fact that the Ga language sentence construction is similar to Twi. Moreover, the so-called ...
read full comment

Frank, that is as good a response as you always present on such matters facing our country. I would also add to your contribution, the fact that the Ga language sentence construction is similar to Twi. Moreover, the so-called Asante Twi spoken all over, is not pure Asante Twi as I have heard it spoken spoken. In the end the common language may enhance cultural homogeneity and draw us closer on the national unity we all seek.
Akadu Mensema 12 years ago

You snide aside is a reference to the so-named Asante women who bleach! But we know that Ga men and womane also bleach. A sensible writer would have anticipated this criticism and would have simply used a woman without qualif ...
read full comment

You snide aside is a reference to the so-named Asante women who bleach! But we know that Ga men and womane also bleach. A sensible writer would have anticipated this criticism and would have simply used a woman without qualifying her as having bleached her face! The joke is on you!

When somebody, probably a Ga man shouted at him to stick to the Ga language and spare himself the heartache, a woman with a bleached face told the man to shut up; asking if everybody
Akadu Mensema 12 years ago

You snide aside is a reference to the so-named Asante women who bleach! But we know that Ga men and womane also bleach. A sensible writer would have anticipated this criticism and would have simply used a woman without qualif ...
read full comment

You snide aside is a reference to the so-named Asante women who bleach! But we know that Ga men and womane also bleach. A sensible writer would have anticipated this criticism and would have simply used a woman without qualifying her as having bleached her face! The joke is on you!

When somebody, probably a Ga man shouted at him to stick to the Ga language and spare himself the heartache, a woman with a bleached face told the man to shut up; asking if everybody
YB 12 years ago

Thanks Akadu for curing the mischief of this Allotey fellow. I would have asked why this writer didn't describe the features of the Ga man who asked the mate to speak his dialect.

Thanks Akadu for curing the mischief of this Allotey fellow. I would have asked why this writer didn't describe the features of the Ga man who asked the mate to speak his dialect.
Kwame Mensah 12 years ago

You sound like a half-brain inferior idiot. Why are you jittery because a bleached-face woman is mentioned in the story?

You sound like a half-brain inferior idiot. Why are you jittery because a bleached-face woman is mentioned in the story?

Akadu Mensema 12 years ago

Buluu!

Buluu!
I AND I 12 years ago

I had a friend(passed away some years back.God Bless his soul)a LA born & bred who told me that one day he went to buy some roasted plantain at La market and naturally spoke Ga to the sales girl but she ferociously replied i ...
read full comment

I had a friend(passed away some years back.God Bless his soul)a LA born & bred who told me that one day he went to buy some roasted plantain at La market and naturally spoke Ga to the sales girl but she ferociously replied in Twi that this language(Ga) is not spoken here.Imagine how my friend a proud Ga man felt? The ?tion now is NA WHO CAUSED AM.
Hon Nii Amasah Namoale La MP started a newspaper targeting mainly at his Ga ppl but ask him what happened to it.
mtnkyere 12 years ago

Any where in the world where many languages converge at one point like Accra the most simply and easily spoken language will supper impose itself on the other. This is natural occurrence which is beyond human reach. This does ...
read full comment

Any where in the world where many languages converge at one point like Accra the most simply and easily spoken language will supper impose itself on the other. This is natural occurrence which is beyond human reach. This does not mean that certain people are important than the others. You are only blaming your Leaders for no wrong of theirs. Go to Countries in East Africa,they all speak Swahili Language, combination of French, Arabic and English with a bit of extinct indigenous language. Go to all European countries, English Language is widely spoken without France, German, Italy,Spain etc.making bitter complain like you are doing. You are only inciting bitterness and causing self harm.
All is about ease of communication. My brother languages will go and new languages will continue to be developed. Even the so called twi you are bitter about has equally undergone a lot of changes-mixer of English,Fante,etc and even Ga check it. Natural!!!!!!
Victor A. Young 12 years ago

Say what? That Ga language will soon be extinct, is impossible. You're probably having some weird dreams. I'm not a native of Ga but I can confidently say that it will NEVER happen. Gas are proud of their culture, festivals e ...
read full comment

Say what? That Ga language will soon be extinct, is impossible. You're probably having some weird dreams. I'm not a native of Ga but I can confidently say that it will NEVER happen. Gas are proud of their culture, festivals etc., and so shall it remain until the end of the world that we live in. Don't dream about that!
corrupt mahama juju killed mills,ei 12 years ago

EVEN GAS SPEAK ENGLISH AND TWI,SO BRO PACK ASIDE AND SHOT UP,

EVEN GAS SPEAK ENGLISH AND TWI,SO BRO PACK ASIDE AND SHOT UP,
Asem 12 years ago

Good piece!

Good piece!
Nana- London 12 years ago

Dear brother, there is no one to you only have to accept. The good things is not where you come from but is only a matter of time all Ghanaians speak one language twi will then that our country become the greatest of all Afri ...
read full comment

Dear brother, there is no one to you only have to accept. The good things is not where you come from but is only a matter of time all Ghanaians speak one language twi will then that our country become the greatest of all Africa countries.
Change is on the way but that is for better of all Ghanaians. God bless us and God bless Ghana
Frank Agyena-Karikari 12 years ago

Don't want to be crucified today heh? I once mentioned that if there should be a national language besides English, it should be Twi. You don't know what happened to me. Just don't say it but we all know that Twi has become l ...
read full comment

Don't want to be crucified today heh? I once mentioned that if there should be a national language besides English, it should be Twi. You don't know what happened to me. Just don't say it but we all know that Twi has become like a second national language.
naa 12 years ago

Very soon all akan will go back where they came from the peace fm must close

Very soon all akan will go back where they came from the peace fm must close
John Throway 12 years ago

the akans have dominated your house but you're dreaming of sending them back. To where?

the akans have dominated your house but you're dreaming of sending them back. To where?

naa 12 years ago

All radio stations must close down

All radio stations must close down
Master Kwaku 12 years ago

Naa, you are a dreamer; keep on dreaming. You and my wife have the same name; but she accepts me wholeheartedly. God bless UNITED Ghana!

Naa, you are a dreamer; keep on dreaming. You and my wife have the same name; but she accepts me wholeheartedly. God bless UNITED Ghana!
Kobby. 12 years ago

I think you must re-write your aiticle again because not only Ashantis who speak twi but all Akans.Not only Ashanti region in accra but all emerge in accra to compete and the strongers always survive.

I think you must re-write your aiticle again because not only Ashantis who speak twi but all Akans.Not only Ashanti region in accra but all emerge in accra to compete and the strongers always survive.
' and Jesus wept ' 12 years ago

What happened to the book 'Adote Sheleng kome'? Yes tell Obetsebi Lamptey to go teach the Gas their culture and stop chasing govt bungallows.

What happened to the book 'Adote Sheleng kome'? Yes tell Obetsebi Lamptey to go teach the Gas their culture and stop chasing govt bungallows.
owusu 12 years ago

you talk as if only Ashanti's speak twi. Meanwhile there is fanti-twi, akuapem-twi, etc why do you ndc tribalist always want to bring tension between Ashanti and other tribes? Stop the hate

you talk as if only Ashanti's speak twi. Meanwhile there is fanti-twi, akuapem-twi, etc why do you ndc tribalist always want to bring tension between Ashanti and other tribes? Stop the hate
LONTO-BOY 12 years ago

".....a woman with a bleached face told the man to shut up;....."

Mr Allotey, I'm surprised at your subtle and blatant stereotype toward non-native [women] speakers of Ga. Is bleaching the distinctive facial feature of non ...
read full comment

".....a woman with a bleached face told the man to shut up;....."

Mr Allotey, I'm surprised at your subtle and blatant stereotype toward non-native [women] speakers of Ga. Is bleaching the distinctive facial feature of non-native Ga women?
owusu 12 years ago

Don't mind him...he is just showing off his tribalist nature

Don't mind him...he is just showing off his tribalist nature
nana 12 years ago

It's very serious indeed and in fairness to Akans not all of them are happy with this development the Gas themselves need to change their mindset to reverse this trend.Something serious has to be done.Where is the Ga Mantse?G ...
read full comment

It's very serious indeed and in fairness to Akans not all of them are happy with this development the Gas themselves need to change their mindset to reverse this trend.Something serious has to be done.Where is the Ga Mantse?GAMEI NYE TIESHI DA NI NYONMO ABI EWEIMO SI YE NYE DEN.
Toto Fitter 12 years ago

Na who cause am?

Na who cause am?
maxwell, u.k. 12 years ago

Continue to wake the people of Ga up from their slumber. As an Akan i have on several occasions expressed disgust about this unfortunate situation. The Gas cannot afford to lose their natural identity. Do not relent in your ...
read full comment

Continue to wake the people of Ga up from their slumber. As an Akan i have on several occasions expressed disgust about this unfortunate situation. The Gas cannot afford to lose their natural identity. Do not relent in your effort.
Tina 12 years ago

Good talk sir

Good talk sir
John Throway 12 years ago

tina, what is good about this tribalistic jive?

tina, what is good about this tribalistic jive?
Tina 12 years ago

I love ga

I love ga
Tina 12 years ago

Good

Good
Tina 12 years ago

Sir you right

Sir you right
Tina 12 years ago

Sir you right

Sir you right
Kwabena Atta 12 years ago

H.K.Allotey,you are a Ga. Set up a Ga Radio Station yourself and stop that jive.

H.K.Allotey,you are a Ga. Set up a Ga Radio Station yourself and stop that jive.
KD 12 years ago

As an Akan who was raised in Accra, I've made similar observations. I love my Ga brothers and sisters and speak my "halting Ga" whenever I get the chance. I praise the non-Gas who speak the Ga language and equally frown on t ...
read full comment

As an Akan who was raised in Accra, I've made similar observations. I love my Ga brothers and sisters and speak my "halting Ga" whenever I get the chance. I praise the non-Gas who speak the Ga language and equally frown on those who make no attempt learn/speak Ga.
Surlely Twi is widely spoken--as if it is the national dialect; even foreigners want to learn Twi phrases. I don't think the Ga language will die but I do share the writer's concern of it being neglected, especially by influential/prominent Gas.
I will continue to proudly speak my halting Ga whenever I get the chance but only Gas can truly save the Ga language. Start with education, cultural pride, etc...Let the new generation know it is cool to embrace the culture/traditions/language...Those commenting, please stop blaming the Akans (particularly the Asantes) for the demise of the Ga language.
Allotey Alloteys 12 years ago

Is the Ga Language is extinct? Poor heading
your writings in most cases suggest who you are and your level of mediocrity. Can you come again with the heading of the article?

Is the Ga Language is extinct? Poor heading
your writings in most cases suggest who you are and your level of mediocrity. Can you come again with the heading of the article?
FOYOOSIS 12 years ago

Do not blame the writer for the poor heading of his article, for he has at least voiced his concerns out. The blame should be directed to Ghanaweb editing section, i wonder if they have any, who could have corrected is extinc ...
read full comment

Do not blame the writer for the poor heading of his article, for he has at least voiced his concerns out. The blame should be directed to Ghanaweb editing section, i wonder if they have any, who could have corrected is extinct to (in extinct)

Have a good day bro!
KD 12 years ago

There may be a typo in the heading, but the content/context of the article is clear and issues he raised should concern anyone who cares about Ghanaian culture, traditions and language. There's a better way to correct our bro ...
read full comment

There may be a typo in the heading, but the content/context of the article is clear and issues he raised should concern anyone who cares about Ghanaian culture, traditions and language. There's a better way to correct our brother Henry without attacking his intellect. No one is perfect...Let's encourage instead of attacking each other...let's embrace our differences and move this country forward. God bless our homeland Ghana!
OKOE 12 years ago

YOU RIGHTLY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.I SUGGEST THAT IF YOU THE WRITER IS A GA TO START TO ORGANIZE AND RESURRECT THE GA LANGUAGE. ONE POLITITIAN ONCE REMARKED ABOUT THE GAS ON ONE OF HER CAMPAIGNS AND WAS MOBBED I UNERSTAND. ...
read full comment

YOU RIGHTLY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.I SUGGEST THAT IF YOU THE WRITER IS A GA TO START TO ORGANIZE AND RESURRECT THE GA LANGUAGE. ONE POLITITIAN ONCE REMARKED ABOUT THE GAS ON ONE OF HER CAMPAIGNS AND WAS MOBBED I UNERSTAND. WILL THE GA ELDERS DEMAND TO DO SOMETHING, NOW THAT THEIR ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THIS DILEMMA. IT IS TIME FOR THE GAS TO DEMAND BEING SPOKEN TO IN GA ESPECIALLY WHEN ON GA SOIL OR GREATER ACCRA I MAY SAY.
AMARIYA 12 years ago

As a result of mixing of different Akan groups and other ethnic groups all using Twi as a language, a new Twi, which I will call standard Twi, which is not dialectically Fanti, Ashanti or Akuapen is been gradually modeled. If ...
read full comment

As a result of mixing of different Akan groups and other ethnic groups all using Twi as a language, a new Twi, which I will call standard Twi, which is not dialectically Fanti, Ashanti or Akuapen is been gradually modeled. If this trend goes on, there would be a modern Twi by a 100 years time.
The Gas language must be encouraged to be taught in all Primary schools in G/A region. Loss of a language is a loss to humanity.
JAMES 12 years ago

It is not only the Ga language which will become extinct but the GA TRIBE also.I can see that happening in 25 years and the reason is simple.Instead of embracing the ADANGBES who are their own "cousins",they are now insiting ...
read full comment

It is not only the Ga language which will become extinct but the GA TRIBE also.I can see that happening in 25 years and the reason is simple.Instead of embracing the ADANGBES who are their own "cousins",they are now insiting that the Adanges are different.Do you remember when an NDC official from Accra protested that only Adangbes were given political appointments by the NDC government and not pure GAS?
Adongo Tongo 12 years ago

In the 1970's Professor Chinebua a linguist who later became a minister in the Liman regime, conducted a study in Madina on the languages spoken in this Muslim enclave. I don't recall the exact numbers but a large majority of ...
read full comment

In the 1970's Professor Chinebua a linguist who later became a minister in the Liman regime, conducted a study in Madina on the languages spoken in this Muslim enclave. I don't recall the exact numbers but a large majority of the residents spoke Twi, followed by Hausa and then Ga. So the Ga language has been dying for a long time. By the way, Asante is not a language, Twi is.
Benash 12 years ago

My brother Owula Kpakpo you just hit the nail on the head and you've said it all. I weep for the Ga State. Thank you so much for the wake up call. There are only few people trying to make sure the Ga language is not extinct. ...
read full comment

My brother Owula Kpakpo you just hit the nail on the head and you've said it all. I weep for the Ga State. Thank you so much for the wake up call. There are only few people trying to make sure the Ga language is not extinct. One person I can remember is the mother of our celebrity Azigiza Jnr.
I do remember after my training as a teacher she and a couple of abled district supervisors at the Accra District insisted that those of us who learned and passed with distinction in the Ga subject to be posted to Accra to teach the subject and I was glad to have done my share.
If our current leaders don't wake up from their slumber then our language will be extinct as you rightly said.
Allotey Alloteys 12 years ago

so what we do as unique and collective people who have our culture and tradition to preserve and protect? i mean we Gas because it seems we are in a strange land now,

so what we do as unique and collective people who have our culture and tradition to preserve and protect? i mean we Gas because it seems we are in a strange land now,
Kofi vs. Kwame 12 years ago

ahhh, Is the ....is...? Sorry! I don`t understand...

ahhh, Is the ....is...? Sorry! I don`t understand...
JOSEPH GANYOBI 12 years ago

YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME ...BUT LET ME TELL YOU THIS EVERY AKAN PERSON WHO SPEAKS TAKES HIMSELF CIVILYZED PERSON THAN HIS FELLOW AKAN WHO DOESNT SPEAK THE GA LANGUAGE....THE GA LANGUAGE IS NOT FOR VAGABONDS NOR FOR UNCIVILYE ...
read full comment

YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME ...BUT LET ME TELL YOU THIS EVERY AKAN PERSON WHO SPEAKS TAKES HIMSELF CIVILYZED PERSON THAN HIS FELLOW AKAN WHO DOESNT SPEAK THE GA LANGUAGE....THE GA LANGUAGE IS NOT FOR VAGABONDS NOR FOR UNCIVILYED PEOPLE....WATCH IT AS SOON AS YOU START SPEAKING THE GA LANGUAGE YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO USE DEODORANT ....
Baraa 12 years ago

Pls. Joe don't start this....Can you take back the stones?

Pls. Joe don't start this....Can you take back the stones?
Mpata Mpata 12 years ago

Minyemi Thanks for your article. Oyiwala donn.
We should start by opening our own GA radio station to be controlled by GAS.

Minyemi Thanks for your article. Oyiwala donn.
We should start by opening our own GA radio station to be controlled by GAS.
HANNIBAL(Blessed by God) 12 years ago

The fact of the matter is that the Gas are a minority. Gas should seek economic power just like the Jews or wealthy minority Chinese in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, etc. Gas should also produce more babi ...
read full comment

The fact of the matter is that the Gas are a minority. Gas should seek economic power just like the Jews or wealthy minority Chinese in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, etc. Gas should also produce more babies. Many non-Gas also speak Ga.
JANGO 12 years ago

YES, THE GA LANGUAGE IS EXTINCT, EVEN IN ACCRA.

MANY GA MEN AND WOMEN MARRIED TO AKANS HARDLY COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR AKAN SPOUSES IN GA, DUE MAINLY TO ARRANT STUPIDITY AND DEEP-SEATED INFERIORITY COMPLEX.

MANY AKANS CAN ...
read full comment

YES, THE GA LANGUAGE IS EXTINCT, EVEN IN ACCRA.

MANY GA MEN AND WOMEN MARRIED TO AKANS HARDLY COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR AKAN SPOUSES IN GA, DUE MAINLY TO ARRANT STUPIDITY AND DEEP-SEATED INFERIORITY COMPLEX.

MANY AKANS CAN SPEAK CONCISE GA BUT THEY PRETEND THEY DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND GA.

KUFUOR AND AKUFFO-ADDO ARE AMONG THEM.

GA'S ARE THE MOST DUMB OF ALL THE TRIBES IN GHANA.
JANGO 12 years ago

I FORGOT TO MENTION CERTIFICATELESS OBETSEBI-LAMPTEY.

OF COURSE, YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT CERTIFICATELESS OBETSEBI LAMPTEY TO SPEAK GA BECUASE THAT GUY IS A NINCOMPOOP.

NO WONDER HE CAN ONLY BE AN NPP PARTY CHAIRMAN.

I FORGOT TO MENTION CERTIFICATELESS OBETSEBI-LAMPTEY.

OF COURSE, YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT CERTIFICATELESS OBETSEBI LAMPTEY TO SPEAK GA BECUASE THAT GUY IS A NINCOMPOOP.

NO WONDER HE CAN ONLY BE AN NPP PARTY CHAIRMAN.
HANNIBAL(Blessed by God) 12 years ago

I disagree. Gas are not dumb. No tribe in Ghana is smarter than the other. All the tribes in Ghana have produced great people. It is about the clash of cultures. It is not only happening in Ghana. Even in the U.S., many peopl ...
read full comment

I disagree. Gas are not dumb. No tribe in Ghana is smarter than the other. All the tribes in Ghana have produced great people. It is about the clash of cultures. It is not only happening in Ghana. Even in the U.S., many people in some of the Southern States speak or understand Spanish because of the massive influx of Mexicans. Accra is the capital of Ghana so one can expect all other cultures to be present. Gas being a minority in the first place will logically be culturally overwhelmed. There are even smaller tribes in Ghana whose language are not that popular. I an Ga. I am proud of being Ga. But I also love all other cultures in Ghana. Gas should produce more Ga babies and increase their population. By 2050, Whites in America will be a minority because they are not producing many White babies. Other tribes in Ghana are producing many babies. Gas should do the same.
JOSEPH GANYOBI 12 years ago

THE GA LANGUAGE IS NOT FOR KOBORLOI IS A LANGUAGE SPOKE BY ALL CIVILYZED PEOPLE...ALL AKANS WHO DOSENT SPEAK THE GA LANGUAGE ARE THE UNCIVILYZED ONCE AMONG....THEY KNOW IT ...

THE GA LANGUAGE IS NOT FOR KOBORLOI IS A LANGUAGE SPOKE BY ALL CIVILYZED PEOPLE...ALL AKANS WHO DOSENT SPEAK THE GA LANGUAGE ARE THE UNCIVILYZED ONCE AMONG....THEY KNOW IT ...
NANA BONSU 12 years ago

Speaking Ga does not make a person any more civilized than speaking English or Twi. Dont allow your emotions to turn you into a fool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Speaking Ga does not make a person any more civilized than speaking English or Twi. Dont allow your emotions to turn you into a fool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tetteyb 12 years ago

It is a deliberate effort for Akan language to dominate in Accra and Gas are not taking it seriously enough. Gas are too laid back but it will be too late. There are well qualified Gas I know around but are not very political ...
read full comment

It is a deliberate effort for Akan language to dominate in Accra and Gas are not taking it seriously enough. Gas are too laid back but it will be too late. There are well qualified Gas I know around but are not very politically ambitious or activists which is a shame.
VINCEY,NJ 12 years ago

Gas are not corrupt and drug dealers like your tribe, that's why you have been able to populate Accra. But let me tell you no matter if the whole akan tribes invade accra , the Ga language will never die. Just like no one can ...
read full comment

Gas are not corrupt and drug dealers like your tribe, that's why you have been able to populate Accra. But let me tell you no matter if the whole akan tribes invade accra , the Ga language will never die. Just like no one can be able to cleanse a tribe through Genocide. Ashantes ,Kwahus and other Akan tribes are money worshippers and have been able to dominate Ga lands through mostly drug monies.Tell Ken Agyapong that he cannot wipe out Gas in 100 years if he try his genocide war on Gas.
Baraa 12 years ago

Vincey, pls go back and re-read Jango's comment. He is sympathetic to the Ga course. Mad at those who could help change the status quo, but chose the other route. War, war, war is not the answer.

Vincey, pls go back and re-read Jango's comment. He is sympathetic to the Ga course. Mad at those who could help change the status quo, but chose the other route. War, war, war is not the answer.
NANA BONSU 12 years ago

Sit on your fat ass and ascribe all Akan wealth to drug dealing. 90% of Akans are extremely hardworking souls. They would start off in Accra shining shoes, hawking bread, cookies, soft drinks etc and graduate to operating fro ...
read full comment

Sit on your fat ass and ascribe all Akan wealth to drug dealing. 90% of Akans are extremely hardworking souls. They would start off in Accra shining shoes, hawking bread, cookies, soft drinks etc and graduate to operating from Kiosks then to stalls and end up 1n 15 -20 surpassing the indegene who despised them and will continue to while they open up the gap in wealth.

Dream on and lose out in the end. ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE.

Come back to me on this one
Agonaba 12 years ago

STOP THE BLAME GAME

STOP THE BLAME GAME
So, so and so 12 years ago

Bigotry is one of the reasons that we are losing the Ga language. We went to a petrol station to buy fuel and my driver who does not speak Ga started shouting at the attendant because the attendant was speaking Ga. I got furi ...
read full comment

Bigotry is one of the reasons that we are losing the Ga language. We went to a petrol station to buy fuel and my driver who does not speak Ga started shouting at the attendant because the attendant was speaking Ga. I got furious with my driver and ask what he expected the attendant to speak. He said he should speak TWI because every Ghanaian speaks TWI. What nonsense, what audacity.
NANA BONSU 12 years ago

You should have fired your driver. I have witnessed that also and hurled some choice words at the offenders. When in Accra, my first choice is English with Ga people. Invariably these days, close to 90% of the Ga's switch to ...
read full comment

You should have fired your driver. I have witnessed that also and hurled some choice words at the offenders. When in Accra, my first choice is English with Ga people. Invariably these days, close to 90% of the Ga's switch to Twi and in response to my reprimand would say " Ahh obira ka Twi" to wit, everybody speaks Twi these days. Dont blame me for the dominance of Twi in Accra.
GA STATE 12 years ago

Who are those grumbling over the recent comment by the LA manste that the AKWABA sign post at the Kotoka international airport be removed and replaced with something that unites us as one people instead of the present Akan gr ...
read full comment

Who are those grumbling over the recent comment by the LA manste that the AKWABA sign post at the Kotoka international airport be removed and replaced with something that unites us as one people instead of the present Akan greetings?
Please be reminded that Akans living in Accra are Ghanaians but non-natives and Accra is not a Twi region.

The airport being a national asset does not give any person/persons the prerogative to mount an inscription that reads AKWABA at the entry point to our beloved country in a particular language over the rest of other spoken languages simply because it’s the most widely spoken language.

This is arrogance and complete disrespect to other spoken languages. What we should all understand is that the Gadangme people in greater Accra region have the moral obligation in ensuring their constitutional rights as enshrined in the constitution of the country in relation to their culture is adhere to.

Akan (Twi) people living in Accra are not under any compulsion to speak GA but what we the natives require of them is to do the obvious. If you go to Rome you do what Romans do. No Akan speaking person is under an obligation to speak Ga but should also know they have absolutely no Wright to impose your language on the gas. If you can’t respect our culture while co- existing with us –relocate to your home town.

Anytime we the Gadangme people raise issues concerning our region/culture, the response we get from our Akan brothers is to lambaste us saying Accra is the capital city of Ghana and if we think we can no longer host the capital we should do the obvious. Get these into your skull-greater Accra region is for Gadangmes people and you have no Wright what so ever to impede any grievances we raise.

Since independence what have we as Ghanaians been able to manage well with all the PhDs, Ms, etc? You think Accra is the capital so you Akans living in Accra can be disrespectful to Gas anytime they raise issues bothering them. Who cares if the capital is removed? Be frank and tell me which group of people have left Accra in its present bad state it is impeding all developments in the capital-Akans (Twi).I wonder how a capital town in an Akan land will look like-complete SLUMS.

You are too arrogant and disrespectful to other tribes and you need to put a stop t this primitive ignorance of an attitude of trying to look better than others especially the Ashantees .In any sphere of the Ghanaian social life, the Akan man (Twi) want to lead/dominate. From the film industry, beauty pageants, news reading, sports name them-but the honest truth is that you always demonstrate mediocrity or copy cats skills. Tell me what significant impact has the so called Akan(Twi) made in Ghana apart from being tribalistic, corrupt and accelerate moral decadence in the country. In fact, you are the albatross around the neck of Ghana preventing it from taking a giant leap in developments.

As you can see, we the Gadangmes are unhappy about some of your attitudes in Accra and we are beginning to pull off the plugs by halting any further uncultured dispositions of yours.

You meet anyone in the street of Accra and you begin to communicate in Twi-this is gross disrespect. Your established radio stations in Accra only broadcast in Twi language-thanks to the democracy you are abusing, you interview people on television and radio and you expect them to speak Twi. I urge all peace loving Ghanaians to reject this uncultured behaviour by our Akan brothers.

I also urge all Gadangmes people to campaign against all Akan hegemony practices being promoted by our Akan speaking brothers in our beloved region with alacrity.

Our next push will be to advocate for only 30% of Akan air broadcasting in Accra and the 70% remaining to be broadcast in English and in govt agreed sponsored languages. Failure to comply with this simple demand will reveal what we have for a long time harboured in us. Again if you Akans (Twi) think this request is too big a demand and can’t co-exist with us respecting our values, please re-locate to your hometown.

I also want to remind all Gadangmes all over the world to press home their demand by ensuring that all greater Accra parliamentary seats are contested by Gadangmes. Any non-native should contest seats in their home town and not in greater Accra-the current trend must change. All political parties must respect this. Greater Accra region is for the natives and it’s their constitutional rights to ensure natives represent their interest and not non-natives.
The only consideration we can let go-will be to make available (allow) 3-5% of parliamentary seats to other minorities who consider themselves as Ghana nationals for reasons being constitutional and reside in Greater Accra.

To my Akan brothers/sisters-who think its cocoa money funding all govt projects and are making too much noise about it-cocoa was brought to Ghana by a Gadangme. let me whisper this gospel truth to you my Akan brothers(Twi) in Ghana-if we the ‘gas’ do not take the lead no one and I repeat no one can move-Check the history of Ghana for your confirmation.

These are all our thoughts/grievances and our constitutional wrights- like it or not we the Gadangme have the constitutional rights to ensure our rights are respected. Failure by any tribe to deprive us from realising our dreams just like other Ghanaian citizen will be meet with the extreme force of resistance.

Arise all Gadangmes and fight for your wrights.

Long live All Gadangmes
NANA BONSU 12 years ago

"Our next push will be to advocate for only 30% of Akan air broadcasting in Accra and the 70% remaining to be broadcast in English.."

No allocation was made for Ga. Why? If Gas do not establish FM stations that broadcast m ...
read full comment

"Our next push will be to advocate for only 30% of Akan air broadcasting in Accra and the 70% remaining to be broadcast in English.."

No allocation was made for Ga. Why? If Gas do not establish FM stations that broadcast mostly in Ga, no one is going to do it for them. Most stations broadcast in Twi because doing otherwise will deviate from achieving the "Return On Investment". Advertisers including Ga business men will pay good money to reach a wider audience. All Ghanaians have prioritize money as number one with God and morality a distant second. SAD BUT TRUE!!!!!!!!!!
GA STATE 12 years ago

This piece of article goes to our Akan brothers and sisters who are angry about the recent comment made by the LA manste about the removal of AKWAABA sign post at the Kotoka international airport and be replaced with a welcom ...
read full comment

This piece of article goes to our Akan brothers and sisters who are angry about the recent comment made by the LA manste about the removal of AKWAABA sign post at the Kotoka international airport and be replaced with a welcome greeting that unite us all instead of the present Akan greetings.

I challenge you the (Twi speaking group) within the Akan clan to establish a Twi radio station in Takoradi which is your sister clan and broadcast in(TWI) NOT in FANTI all over the western region as a means of reaching your targeted audience and wait for the response from your sister tribe. Your established (TWI) radio stations in Accra only broadcast in (AKAN-TWI)-what an UNCIVILISED behaviour.

If this is an attempt to established dominance of TWI language in greater Accra hence, changing the existing language (i.e.) the Ga language in the region-then I can promise you that you are in for a surprise. It’s just a matter of time and all your Akan radio stations in Accra will go in FLAMES as this is the only option available to bring to bear our demand. This will then curtail the present establishment and pave way to embrace GA language as the main lingual Franca in Accra and its surroundings.

If you fell too big to speak Ga- in Accra please relocate to your region where TWI is spoken including your TWI leaders such as-Kufour and Co. They’ve lived in Accra all their lives and yet refuse to speak a word of Ga language and that is what you the current generation emulating. Please go back to your home towns we don’t even want you there. If I may ask who is even coercing you to come and settle in Accra-ungrateful people. Continue to ignore our concerns and wait for our response.

Just to let you know greater Accra is (NOT a TWI region) and TWI is not our language. The only radio station that can broadcast more than 70% of its air time in Gadangme land should be a Gadangme radio station/stations. All other radio stations should be allowed 30% of Akan air time and the remaining 70% in English and in other government sponsored languages.

If you so called Akan radio stations in Accra failed to change the current trend of broadcasting in Accra your stations will soon come under attack to establish the correct broadcasting practices.

You have every right to co-exist with us till thy kingdom come BUT do not and I repeat do not change our Language.

Akan (TWI) speaking people do not want to embrace other cultures in Ghana but happy to see their culture dominance-how can this be possible.

Akan (TWI) people are intolerant, arrogant and disrespectful tribe in Ghana and will one day plunge this beloved country of ours into a civil war.

All Gadangme people must join me in the fight against AKANISATION of ACCRA-only 30% of AKAN air time should be allowed in Accra. TWI people you are too arrogant for my liking.

Ga mei please stop selling the remaining of our lands for our future generation-these same people you sell the lands to turn round and insult you as lazy and foolish people. To let them know we are not stupid, please put a stop to this disgracing act. The land belongs to the future generation waiting to uphold the Gadangme culture not the ones obliterating you from the national profiling.

Ga mei all over the world please let’s petition government to ensure the Ga language is taught and made compulsory in all Primary to JSS(JHS) private/public all over greater ACCRA.

Government must ensure fair broadcasting (which includes major spoken dialects) on our radios and televisions and stop the AKANISATION of Ghana’s art and media.

Long live Gdangme people
NANA BONSU 12 years ago

You have some good points but your unchecked emotions distorts your logic.

Civilized society has moved past the point where "force ruled". The train has left the station and your emotional baggage is pulling you down.

You have some good points but your unchecked emotions distorts your logic.

Civilized society has moved past the point where "force ruled". The train has left the station and your emotional baggage is pulling you down.
NOA 12 years ago

VOAR previously run by Space Clottey and the only station in the UK where in recent past Ga featured with some prominence alongside English has now also been eaten up and half the time transmits in twi. It's a tsunami that wi ...
read full comment

VOAR previously run by Space Clottey and the only station in the UK where in recent past Ga featured with some prominence alongside English has now also been eaten up and half the time transmits in twi. It's a tsunami that will destroy everything in its path unless the consciousness of GaAdangbe indigenes is awoken...constructively.
WARD GDX - WE THE PEOPLE 12 years ago

The individual behind this article is ignorant, stupid and based on his tribal innuendos, a bigot as well.

The article is laden with incongruent associations and examples with no material relevance to the subject matter ...
read full comment

The individual behind this article is ignorant, stupid and based on his tribal innuendos, a bigot as well.

The article is laden with incongruent associations and examples with no material relevance to the subject matter.

He harbors hate in his heart and it is not surprising he cannot accept the reality underpinning his fears.
Dada 12 years ago

U dont make sense. Kwasiaman!

U dont make sense. Kwasiaman!
WARD GDX - WE THE PEOPLE 12 years ago

You lack the intellectual capacity required to comprehend constructs of that complexity.

Aboafunu

You lack the intellectual capacity required to comprehend constructs of that complexity.

Aboafunu
WARD GDX - WE THE PEOPLE 12 years ago

You lack the intellectual capacity required to comprehend constructs of that complexity.

Aboafunu

You lack the intellectual capacity required to comprehend constructs of that complexity.

Aboafunu
james naru 12 years ago

I am neither a Ga or an Akan.
I have equally observed this phenomenon.
It started in the 1970s.
This issue can only be addressed by the Ga people

I am neither a Ga or an Akan.
I have equally observed this phenomenon.
It started in the 1970s.
This issue can only be addressed by the Ga people
Ama Badua 12 years ago

This article surely reveals explicitly the facts of the issue. The Ga Chiefs should not bear the whole blame. The educated Gas should bear part of it too. They see the problem and have been doing nothing to solve it. No Gas, ...
read full comment

This article surely reveals explicitly the facts of the issue. The Ga Chiefs should not bear the whole blame. The educated Gas should bear part of it too. They see the problem and have been doing nothing to solve it. No Gas, and I say it again, no Gas have offered a solution. They only write about the problem. Let's also read about a solution.
Amarh 12 years ago

Need to teach compulsory Ga language in all the Accra schools

Need to teach compulsory Ga language in all the Accra schools
Kartas 12 years ago

My people, if any one can speak of Ga whiles in the city ,that can help each other;than some BLOCK HEADED peole fails to make attampt.Most of others tris to help the hopeless beings, by learning the Twi to keep the life easy ...
read full comment

My people, if any one can speak of Ga whiles in the city ,that can help each other;than some BLOCK HEADED peole fails to make attampt.Most of others tris to help the hopeless beings, by learning the Twi to keep the life easy for the Block Heads that fails to learn others languages.Eduation from each can help the world moving in Peace.
Sandra 12 years ago

am just tired of the akans

am just tired of the akans
Odurose 12 years ago

Sandra, if you are tired of the Akans then you are tired of life. This Gadamgme irredentism is about 60 years too late and, whether you and your type like it or not, the Akan takeover of Accra is, unfortunately for you, total ...
read full comment

Sandra, if you are tired of the Akans then you are tired of life. This Gadamgme irredentism is about 60 years too late and, whether you and your type like it or not, the Akan takeover of Accra is, unfortunately for you, total and irreversible.
name 12 years ago

Akans are from the bush and they have to go to the bush

Akans are from the bush and they have to go to the bush
Ashely tisdale 9 years ago

Can someone please translate this for me?
Dem say sm gal go porshui u
Bra tema nab3 shw3
Y the bj craze u anaaaa
Oboi the girl too they force
Sia how I go get number way knife dey my waste.
Sorrrrrmia

Can you ple ...
read full comment

Can someone please translate this for me?
Dem say sm gal go porshui u
Bra tema nab3 shw3
Y the bj craze u anaaaa
Oboi the girl too they force
Sia how I go get number way knife dey my waste.
Sorrrrrmia

Can you please translate all this?

91 Comments

Welcome,

SIGN IN

Welcome,

RESET PASSWORD

Hello,

Terms and conditions

REGISTER

Is the Ga language is extinct?

Read Comments .st0{display:none;fill:#14BDD3;} .st1{display:none;} .st2{display:inline;fill:#FC0F0F;} .st3{display:inline;fill:#FFFFFF;} .st4{display:inline;fill:none;stroke:#000000;stroke-width:6;stroke-miterlimit:10;} Comments (91)

Read Comments Comments (91)