The Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, Mrs. Mavis Kuukua Bissue, has urged the Ministry of Education and other key institutions to take swift action to integrate the Ayinda language into Ghana’s formal education system.
Her appeal, made in a moving address on the floor of Parliament, underscores growing concerns over the extinction of many native tongues — Ayinda included.
Ayinda, a Central Tano language within the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family, is spoken by the Ahanta people in the Western Region of Ghana.
It shares linguistic and cultural ties with Nzema, Evalue, and Brosa, and is also spoken across the border in parts of South Ivory Coast.
Despite its historical and cultural importance, Ayinda is now listed among Ghana’s endangered languages, with fewer and fewer children speaking or even understanding it.
“I am an example of the dangers that lie ahead if we fail as a country to document and teach our indigenous languages.
Despite being born to Ahanta’s parents, I was never taught Ayinda — not at home, not in school.
I had no books to read in my mother tongue, and now my children face the same fate,” she stated.
The MP highlighted that over 40 Ghanaian languages face similar threats, referencing language scholars who warn of a potential loss of national identity, oral history, traditional governance systems, and spiritual heritage if urgent action is not taken.
A Four-Point National Proposal
In response, Mrs. Bissue outlined a comprehensive four-point plan to safeguard the Ayinda language:
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Official Recognition: That the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service formally recognize Ayinda as a Ghanaian language of study.
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Funding and Support: Provision of financial and technical resources to scale up and mainstream the ongoing pilot programme.
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Curriculum Integration: Inclusion of Ayinda in the Common Core Programme (CCP) and subsequent national curriculum updates.
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Collaboration with NaCCA: Partnering with the Ahanta Bible Translation Project and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to develop standardized, examinable learning materials.
The MP noted that the Ahanta Bible Translation Project has already developed the orthography (writing system) for Ayinda — a crucial foundational step for curriculum integration.
To drive momentum, she established a Language Renaissance Committee, bringing together traditional leaders, language experts, educators, and media representatives to coordinate the language revival efforts.
Pilot Programme Already Underway
The legislature revealed that 20 basic schools within the Ahanta West Municipality have already been selected for a pilot Ayinda language programme, marking a significant step toward community-led preservation and intergenerational transmission.
She cited global education research showing that children learn best when taught in their mother tongue, reinforcing that language preservation is not merely cultural but a matter of educational efficacy.
“Mr. Speaker, our languages are living archives of our history, identity, and dignity. If we allow Ayinda to disappear, we lose not only a language but a vital part of Ghana’s national story,” she said.
A Constitutional and Global Mandate
Mrs. Bissue anchored her advocacy in Article 39(3) of Ghana’s Constitution, which obliges the State to promote the development and integration of Ghanaian languages into national life.
She also referenced Ghana’s commitments under the African Union’s Language Plan of Action for Africa and UNESCO conventions on cultural diversity.
“This is not just an Ahanta problem; it’s a national issue.
With the support of this Honourable House, we can make language preservation a cornerstone of our national identity and educational strategy.”
Story By: Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor
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