Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Abla Dzifa Gomashie has endorsed proposals for the Ga language to be made a compulsory subject in schools across Accra.
Speaking in an interview with TV3 on September 11, 2025, Gomashie acknowledged that while people should not be forced to speak a language they do not wish to, those who are indigenous to a language have a duty to preserve it.
“You cannot force someone to speak a language they don’t want to speak. But we must admit that the indigènes must speak it themselves,” she said.
She argued that allowing other languages to dominate while expecting Ga to fade without protection makes it difficult to promote it through policy.
“If you leave your language for other languages, you can’t be fighting in that same space to make it compulsory,” she added.
Gomashie said that if there is a policy objective to strengthen Ga, ensuring it is spoken widely among the people and taught in schools, then schools should be required to teach it.
“But I agree that if the policy is to improve on the language and ensure that it’s spoken among the people and it becomes something that schools have to teach, then let them teach Ga,” she said.
Ga Mantse calls for teaching of Ga and Dangme in schools to preserve language
The minister further noted that individuals have a right to speak the language of their choice, if that is their heritage. But stated that cultural responsibility involves promoting one’s mother tongue.
“If you love to speak your Ewe because your father is Ewe, that’s my choice. But if you don’t speak it to me, you can’t force me to speak it to you,” she said.
Gomashie called for collective ownership of the Ga language, saying that those from the Ga community must take the lead in ensuring the language thrives.
ID/EB
