|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The government is adopting Ghanaian languages animation and other creative approaches to help children learn and appreciate the country’s indigenous languages and cultural heritage, Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie has disclosed.
The initiative is being implemented through the Bureau of Ghana Languages (BGL) as part of broader efforts to preserve Ghana’s indigenous languages and encourage younger generations to maintain a strong connection with their cultural identity.
Speaking at the government’s Accountability Series on Monday, August 10, Dzifa Gomashie explained that animation and cartoons could make learning Ghanaian languages more engaging and accessible to children.
Ghanaian Languages Animation to Reach Children
According to the minister, the government recognises the need to find innovative ways of encouraging children to speak and understand indigenous languages at a time when many young people are increasingly exposed to foreign languages through education, entertainment and digital platforms.
She said using cartoons could provide an effective way to introduce children to Ghanaian languages while simultaneously teaching them about traditional values, customs and cultural practices.
The approach is expected to combine education and entertainment, allowing children to encounter indigenous languages in formats that are familiar and appealing to them.
“The BGL is undertaking the animation of our Ghanaian languages and the rationale is to introduce our culture to Ghanaian children through cartoons,” Dzifa Gomashie said.
The project forms part of a wider government effort to ensure that Ghana’s linguistic and cultural heritage is passed from one generation to another.
Bureau of Ghana Languages Promotes Mother-Tongue Preservation
The minister noted that the Bureau of Ghana Languages has already undertaken several programmes aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to speak their indigenous languages and teach them to their children.
She highlighted the Ghana Languages Festival, which was marked in July 2025 as one of the initiatives designed to create public awareness about the importance of preserving Ghanaian languages.
The annual event seeks to encourage families and communities to recognise the importance of speaking indigenous languages at home and passing them on to younger generations.
“In our efforts to preserve our mother tongue, the ministry, through BGL, marked the Ghana Languages Festival in July 2025,” she explained.
According to the minister, the festival has become part of the ministry’s calendar and provides an opportunity to educate the public about the need to preserve Ghana’s linguistic heritage.
Government Targets Younger Generation
Dzifa Gomashie also encouraged Ghanaians to participate in activities marking International Mother Language Day on February 21 each year.
She said the occasion provides an opportunity to celebrate the country’s diverse languages and raise awareness about their importance.
The government’s use of Ghanaian languages animation reflects an attempt to take language preservation beyond traditional educational methods and into modern forms of storytelling.
With children increasingly consuming digital content, cartoons could provide an opportunity to make indigenous languages more visible and relevant in their everyday lives.
The initiative could also help promote Ghanaian culture by incorporating traditional stories, characters, values and customs into animated productions.
Ultimately, the government hopes that combining technology, entertainment and education will encourage more children to speak Ghanaian languages and develop a deeper appreciation for their cultural heritage.
The initiative underscores the growing need for innovative approaches to language preservation and highlights the role of creative industries in protecting Ghana’s cultural identity for future generations.
