By Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Sandema (U/E), April 14, GNA – Dr Clement Abas Apaak, Deputy Minister for Education and Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South, is spearheading a landmark initiative to integrate the Buli language into Ghana’s formal education system.
Speaking at a stakeholder consultative meeting in Sandema, Dr Apaak emphasised that developing a unified orthography was the vital first step toward making Buli an examinable subject in schools.
The gathering brought together traditional authorities, educators, and religious leaders to deliberate on the future of the language.
Dr Apaak warned that without deliberate documentation and formal instruction, indigenous languages risk extinction amid modern globalisation.
“Language is the window into every culture. When a language is not documented for teaching and learning, the risk of it becoming extinct is very high. We must preserve our heritage,” he stated.
He further noted that formalising Buli was not merely an academic exercise but a move to strengthen the identity of the Builsa people and ensure their cultural legacy remains intact for future generations.
The Deputy Minister highlighted the pedagogical benefits of mother-tongue instruction, citing research that shows children develop stronger cognitive and creative skills when taught in their native language during early education.
He said incorporating Buli into the curriculum would eliminate educational disadvantages for Builsa children, improve literacy rates in the region, and foster pride and belonging among students.
Dr Apaak pledged his full commitment to the project, commending the unity of the Builsa people and expressing optimism that collaboration between government and academia marks a transformative new chapter for the Buli language.
Professor Samuel Awinkane Atintono, Chairman of the Language Development Committee, is leading the technical effort to unify the Buli orthography.
Working in collaboration with the University of Education, Winneba, the committee will conduct community consultations to ensure the new standards are inclusive and widely accepted.
Professor Atintono described the initiative as “long overdue,” pointing out inconsistencies in the spelling of Buli names and words.
He also noted the irony that foreign researchers often show more initiative in documenting local languages than native speakers themselves.
The roadmap for the project includes the formation of technical committees to oversee linguistic accuracy and sustained community dialogue to build consensus on dialectal variations.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali /Audrey Dekalu