The Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Gifty Twum, has underscored the need for parents to speak the Ghanaian languages with their children whilst with them at home.
She noted that children who are taught in their mother tongues tend to grasp educational concepts and principles faster and easier than they do when taught in other languages.
She said teaching the child how to speak and write in Ewe, Ga, Twi, Dagbani, Dagaare and other languages cannot be described as education by default.
The Deputy Minister made this call when an NGO “We care for children” foundation donated 2,300 Fante text books worth GHc16, 000 to the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Municipal Educational Office in the Central Region over the weakened.
“Speak the local language with your children whiles they are in their infant stages since it goes a long way to help them understand and adopt the English language better ’ she hinted.
Madam Gifty Twum, who doubled as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Abuakwa North Constituency in the Eastern Region, disclosed that speaking the local languages helps in proper and better identification of people .
In his delivery, the Director of “We care for Children” foundation, Apostle Michael Ankrah, disclosed that the motive behind the formation of the foundation was to assist stakeholders in the education sector enhance teaching and learning of local languages among school children in Ghana.
He called for financial support from the Ministry of Education, The Ghana Education Service and private organizations to help them achieve their aim; That’s distribute over one thousands text books written in Fante, Asante, Akuapem, Dangbe, Ewe, Nzeman Dagbani languages to children in the kindergarten to lower primary schools across the country.
He said the text books were written by well experienced writers to help sharpen the minds on the study of the Ghanaian languages.
Apostle Ankrah was happy to announce that the organization has earlier donated Asante books to the Lower Denkyira Twifo-Heman District Education Office in the Central Region, the Anyaa-Sowutuom Municipal Education Office, Ga west municipal education office all in the in the Greater Accra Region, the Koforidua Municipal Education Office, Cape-Coast Metropolis Education office and the Junkwaa-Frami Catholic Primary School in the Central Region.
At We Care for Children” we are ready to help promote the study of Ghanaian languages in our schools across the country. However, we cannot achieve our aim without the supports of The Ghana Education Service (GES), The Ministry of Education, NGO’s and other individuals” he stated.
A representative of the Central Regional Director of Education, Mr. Jacob A.M Korh, who received the books on behalf of the assembly, thanked the foundation for the gesture, saying that it would go a long way to enhance teaching and learning of local language in the area.