Prime News Ghana

MPs urged to speak local languages in Parliament

By Mutala Yakubu
Parliament
Dr Appah (right) has urged MPs to speak local languages in Parliament
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Dr Clement Apaak a senior lecturer and coordinator of the Chinese section at the University of Ghana Department of linguistics, has urged members of Parliament to express themselves in their local languages at parliamentary sittings.


Mr Apaak disclosed that although English is Ghana’s official language, it is somewhat limited in discussing issues of great importance that affect people at the local level.

He added that parliamentarians should be able to participate in debates using simultaneous translation devices that allow real-time in-ear translations.

"We should make it possible for people to come to parliament to use their local languages and should encourage everybody who is influential in this country to show that reading the local languages is fun and important,” he said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the second edition of the Chinese song contest at the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana, Legon last Friday, Dr Apaak said “Let people come into government with their knowledge and not feel that or with all the knowledge they have they can’t make it if they can’t speak English."

Read also:Former MP shares why Parliament is under performing

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