Mahama Urges Parents to Teach Children Indigenous Languages

President John Dramani Mahama has called on parents, teachers and traditional leaders to prioritise the teaching and use of Ghana’s indigenous languages among children to help preserve the country’s cultural heritage.

He said local languages are essential to maintaining cultural identity, strengthening family bonds and transmitting traditions and values from one generation to another.

President Mahama made the call at the Guan Congress 2026 held at Anum in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region.

The congress brought together traditional leaders, members of Guan communities and cultural groups to promote unity, protect the identity of the Guan people and discuss development issues affecting their communities.

The event returned to Anum for the first time in 30 years, giving members of the various Guan communities an opportunity to reconnect and deliberate on matters concerning their traditional areas.

In a speech delivered on his behalf by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, President Mahama encouraged Ghanaians from all ethnic backgrounds to speak their indigenous languages at home and ensure that their children learn them.

He said the Bureau of Ghana Languages was ready to work with Guan communities to develop the orthography of their various languages as part of efforts to document, preserve and promote them.

The President stressed that preserving indigenous languages should not be the responsibility of traditional authorities alone. He said parents and teachers also have a crucial role to play in keeping children connected to their linguistic and cultural heritage.

The National President of the Guan Congress and Ankobeahene of Larteh Ahenease, Enyineh Gyadu Nkansah III, said the congress was established to unite Guan communities and mobilise their collective resources for development.

He appealed to President Mahama and the Constitutional Review Committee to consider changes to aspects of the Chieftaincy Act to provide chiefs who are not represented on the Houses of Chiefs with meaningful roles in traditional governance.

He argued that such reforms could help address chieftaincy disputes and promote peace.

The guest speaker, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II, Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area, also urged Guan chiefs to remain united and speak with one voice on issues affecting their communities.

He called on traditional authorities to protect Guan lands against encroachment while ensuring that their communities receive a fair share of national development.

Buipewura Jinapor II further urged the chiefs to support policies and initiatives aimed at safeguarding the interests of both current and future generations.

By: Paulina Armah/ Radio1.