Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has made a proposal that could reshape the linguistic landscape of the country, by calling for the adoption of a local dialect as the official language of Ghana.

The speaker made the call during a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Essikado, Nana Kobena Nketsia V, at his palace, at Essikado in the Western Region.

He justified his call with a claim that Ghana’s current official language – the English language belongs to another culture and that a society cannot progress using the language of another society.

“No society develops with the language of another society,” he maintained.

He, thus, has called on stakeholders to formulate a national policy to adopt a local language as the country’s official language.

“That is one of the challenges in Ghana, and we must get our language right as a country. For example, the Arabs are ahead of us in terms of development because they have adopted an official language of theirs which every citizen understands,” he stated.

Additionally, he noted that it would be wise for the nation to embrace a distinctive national identity that would promote harmonious interactions among its citizens, thereby expediting the country's progress and development.

The Speaker’s visit constituted a portion of his interactions with essential stakeholders to garner their backing for the celebration of three decades of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy during the fourth republic.

Mr Bagbin emphasised that Ghana should draw inspiration from East and South African countries, which have chosen to use a local language, like Swahili, as their official language.

He mentioned that this approach would enhance inclusivity and involve all individuals in the nation's endeavor to attain sustainable economic development.

He expressed that after three decades of practicing democracy as a nation, it was essential to review and reformulate certain facets of the country's democratic principles to ensure their ongoing maintenance.

He pointed out that achieving this objective would require Parliament to actively interact with the public, understanding their perspectives and recommendations to shape policy revisions related to parliamentary affairs.

Mr Bagbin highlighted the importance of increased participation of traditional authorities in the governance process, emphasising their role as guardians of the land. He mentioned that traditional leaders were the authentic leaders of Ghana and Africa, as they held the trust and allegiance of their followers.

On his part, Nana Nketsia V commended the Speaker for his efforts to engage with stakeholders to consolidate and promote democracy in the country.

Mr Bagbin was in the company of Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western Regional Minister, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi Constituency, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle Constituency, Mr Joseph Cudjoe, MP for Effia Constituency and Mr Eric Afful, MP for Amenfi West Constituency among other dignitaries, when he called on the Chief.