Ga language at risk: EXIM Bank chief urges parents and chiefs to preserve endangered tongue

Ghana's language heritage is under serious threat, with growing numbers of young people unable to speak their mother tongue, according to Sylvester Adinam Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana EXIM Bank. Speaking at the 10th anniversary celebration of Latenu FM, a community radio station based in La, Mensah raised alarm about children who either understand Ga but refuse to speak it or cannot communicate in the language at all.

The concern reflects a broader challenge facing Ghana's indigenous languages as urbanisation, globalisation and the dominance of English reshape how younger generations communicate and connect with their heritage. Mensah's intervention underscores how quickly oral traditions and cultural knowledge can be lost within a single generation if deliberate steps are not taken.

Why language preservation matters beyond words

During his address on Saturday, September 25, Mensah articulated why reversing this trend is critical. "Language is not just a way of speaking. It is a way of seeing," he explained, emphasising that the Ga language carries far more than vocabulary—it embodies worldview, identity and accumulated wisdom.

He reminded the audience that earlier generations used stories, songs and proverbs to transmit knowledge to their children. These were not merely entertainment; they were deliberate mechanisms for passing on wisdom, fostering identity and instilling pride in community belonging. When a language dies, generations lose access to these cultural repositories.

Mensah urged traditional leaders and parents to take responsibility for teaching Ga to their children, framing it as a duty to future generations. "Let no child grow up … without knowing the story of the land beneath their feet," he stated, highlighting how language and history are inseparable.

The role of media in language revival

Recognising that radio alone cannot sustain a language in the digital age, Mensah encouraged Latenu FM to expand beyond traditional broadcasting. He called on the station to develop programming that teaches young people Ga whilst simultaneously uncovering local history—the stories of towns, institutions and community figures that give language context and relevance.

Critically, he urged the station to embrace podcasts, streaming platforms and social media to reach younger audiences and diaspora Ghanaians. This reflects an understanding that language preservation in the 21st century requires meeting young people where they consume media, not expecting them to return to traditional formats.

Latenu FM, which has maintained Ga-language broadcasting for a decade, was praised for demonstrating that the language remains contemporary. "You have reminded our young that our language is not old-fashioned. It is beautiful, it is modern, and it belongs to them," Mensah told the station.

What this means for Ghana's cultural landscape

Ghana is home to numerous indigenous languages—Akan, Ewe, Ga, Dagbani and others—yet many face erosion as English and mixed-language communication dominate urban spaces. The situation in Accra's Ga community reflects national trends affecting ethnic languages across the country.

The challenge requires intervention at multiple levels: families must prioritise mother-tongue instruction at home; schools could integrate local languages more thoroughly; and media platforms must make indigenous-language content engaging and accessible to youth. Without coordinated effort, younger Ghanaians risk growing up disconnected from the linguistic and cultural foundations of their communities.

Mensah's call is a reminder that cultural preservation is not the responsibility of institutions alone—it demands commitment from parents, elders, traditional authorities and the broader community. The window for reversing language shift remains open, but only if action begins now.