Don't feel shy to speak and write in your native languages — Ghanaian Language Teacher

A final year student of the University of Education,Winneba studying Bachelor of Arts in Gonja Education and a native of Bole Mr.Kofi Pentu has admonish Gonja's in the Savannah region to show interest in learning their native languages. Speaking to Bole based Nkilgi Fm, Mr Kofi Pentu express his surprise at how most Ghanaians feel shy with the mistakes they make when speaking English but feel comfortable with the mistakes made when speaking their own languages. Mr. Kofi Pentu indicated that, most Gonja's in the Savannah region don't show interest in learning their language which is causing the extinction of the Gonja language and culture in our society. He indicated that, as a concern advocate of preserving and inculcating our traditional values and Culture to the younger generations, he employed a number of measures to engage the youth in the study of their language through cultural activities organised for primary and Junior high schools in Bole and writing in the local languages within Bole (Gonja and Vagla) on social media. He added that, at the University of Education,Winneba Faculty of languages, there are larger numbers of tribes learning their language and culture but with just a handful of students from the Savannah region studying lindquistics in Gonja language. He therefore appealed to the Chiefs of Gonjaland and people in higher positions to help in this campaign to enlighten the youth to take serious their education in Gonja language and traditions. Meanwhile, in a related story Nkilgi Fm brought to our listeners a story where the leadership of the Queen mothers in Savannah region, Kansawurche Hajia Ajara Bukari has stressed on the need to inculcate and promote the Gonja language "nganye" to all our various schools and institutions in Savannah region because as a tribe and people we are losing our heritage of discipline in our mother tongue language, she said, Gonja teachers should make it a priority to passionately sacrifice time and effort to teach our young children "nganye" because it will keep our heritage and traditions in touch. Also, she pleaded with various scholar's to make it a point to volunteer to teach "nganye" to our young children to enlighten them with knowledge of their traditions and norms to add up to their formal education.