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Story by: Paul Mensah Nsor
Accra, Ghana - Experts, policymakers, academics, and civil society leaders have emphasized the need for deliberate action to digitalize Ghanaian languages, promote mother tongue use in homes and schools, and ensure African data sovereignty in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). This call was made at the 2026 International Mother Language Day symposium, held on the theme: “Youth Voices on Multilingual Education.”
The symposium highlighted the importance of language in knowledge production, inclusion, and technological equity, with concerns that African languages remain underrepresented in digital and AI systems. Professor Josephine Dzahene-Quarshie, Dean of the School of Languages, University of Ghana, noted that Ghana has made progress in promoting local languages, but identified gaps in language policies, including the absence of subject textbooks in local languages.
Prof. Isaac Wiafe, Head of the Department of Computer Science, University of Ghana, emphasized that less than one per cent of the world’s languages are represented online, with African languages categorized as low-resource languages. He urged stakeholders to take action to digitalize Ghanaian languages and promote their use in AI systems.
Bernice Narh, a member of the African Women Leaders Network, stressed that language is central to identity, culture, power, and dignity, and that multilingual education is a critical justice and equity issue in Africa. She called on policymakers to strengthen multilingual education policies and for communities to take pride in local languages.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, H.E. Zia Choudhury, cited UNESCO data indicating that about 40 per cent of learners worldwide do not receive education in a language they understand, contributing to poor literacy and widening inequalities. He encouraged young people to use digital platforms and emerging technologies to promote and preserve their languages.
Recommendations
- Establish vocabulary expansion agencies to develop scientific and technical terminologies in Ghanaian languages
- Strengthen multilingual education policies and adopt inclusive teaching approaches
- Promote digitalization of Ghanaian languages and ensure African data sovereignty
- Encourage young people to speak their mother tongues with confidence and use digital platforms to promote and preserve their languages
