The Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Hon. Ohene Kwame Frimpong, has called for the Parliament of Ghana to designate at least one day each month for lawmakers to freely express themselves in their native languages during parliamentary proceedings.
According to him, this initiative would help preserve indigenous languages for future generations while encouraging young people to learn and embrace their mother tongues. He also believes it would promote Ghana’s diverse cultural heritage and strengthen the identity of various ethnic groups.
Hon. Frimpong made this appeal during a press briefing in Parliament on Friday, February 21, 2025, following his contribution to a statement delivered on the Floor of the House by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie (MP for Ketu South). The statement was in commemoration of International Mother Language Day, which is observed annually on February 21.
“As we all witnessed on the Floor of the House, Members of Parliament have emphasized the need to promote our native languages to ensure that our children and future generations learn them properly so they do not become extinct,” he noted.
Current Parliamentary Language Policy
At present, parliamentary proceedings are primarily conducted in English. However, per Order 56 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, an MP may choose to speak in a local language if arrangements have been made for interpretation. The Standing Order states:
“The proceedings of Parliament shall ordinarily be conducted in English, except that a Member may exercise the option to address the House in a local language if facilities exist in the House for interpretation by the Member or for contemporaneous interpretation.”
Given the existing restrictions, Hon. Frimpong is championing efforts to introduce advanced translation technology to facilitate the seamless use of native languages in Parliament.
Leveraging Technology for Native-Language Translation
The MP revealed that he is working to procure translation technology that will make it easier for MPs to speak their native languages without delays or interpretation challenges. He cited a collaboration with Awuni Peter, a Ghanaian innovator based in the United States, who has developed a Twi translation tool.
“I am engaging with Awuni Peter, who has built a Twi translator. This could be a game-changer for Parliament. If MPs can speak in their local languages—whether Twi, Ga, or Ewe—without the need to manually translate into English, it will save time and make proceedings more efficient,” he explained.
Hon. Frimpong expressed optimism that, with time, Parliament will adopt more advanced language solutions to accommodate Ghana’s linguistic diversity.
Debunking Claims About MPs’ Silence
Addressing concerns that some MPs remain silent in Parliament due to difficulties with the English language, Hon. Frimpong dismissed the notion. He clarified that the issue is often about confidence rather than language proficiency.
“The claim that some MPs do not speak in the House because they cannot speak English is false. The real issue is that some individuals lack the courage to speak before a large audience, not that they are incapable of expressing themselves in English,” he stated.
Hon. Frimpong’s advocacy has sparked discussions about the role of language in Ghana’s legislative process and the need for reforms to make parliamentary debates more inclusive.
Source: Clement Akoloh
