READING IN OUR GHANAIAN LANGUAGES PROMOTES UNITY AND DIVERSITY

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in partnership with the Accra World Book Capital (AWBC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organized a one-day reading programme on International Mother Language Day, to sensitize students on the importance of reading in the local dialect.

Given the above, the NCCE’s Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metro organized its reading campaign in one of the Ghanaian languages (Ga) at the Accra Sempe School, James Town.

The programme saw the likes of some eminent personalities such as the Deputy Chairman of Operations, NCCE, Mr. Samuel Asare Akuamoah, and an AWBC Committee Member, Mr. Edward Yaw Udzu (Esq.).

Selected JHS students who read were Enoch Dzumor, Elizabeth Okyere, and Lovia Sackey.

Mr. Samuel Akuamoah narrated a brief history of his past and how he could speak eleven local languages to motivate the students and to let them know that nothing is impossible to achieve if they set their minds to it. He also challenged the students to read wide, not only to improve their literacy but to know and understand the societal issues that affect them to defy the saying, “if you want to hide something from the black man you put in books”.

Mr. Edward Yaw Udzu encouraged the students to make conscious efforts to read because research has shown that the human mind is not programmed to read. So, until they make a conscious effort, they will not be able to make a positive impact in their communities.