Ghana's government exclusively uses English for official documents and parliamentary proceedings, effectively excluding millions of its citizens from national discourse. This linguistic barrier means that crucial state information, including the 1992 Constitution and annual budgets, remains inaccessible to a large segment of the population. The issue highlights a long-standing challenge in fostering inclusive governance and citizen engagement.
The exclusion disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, including 4.6 million women and many rural citizens, who cannot read or write in any language. These individuals often rely on private radio presenters for translated summaries of national events. However, these informal translations lack official authority and may not fully convey the nuances of policy decisions. This creates a significant disconnect between the state and its people, particularly concerning economic policies that directly impact daily lives.
This situation fits into Ghana's broader socio-economic narrative where access to information and participation remains a key development challenge. Despite 69 years of independence, the state has not officially translated the 1992 Constitution into any Ghanaian language. The only full Akuapem Twi translation, launched in 2023, was a private initiative by lawyer Kwasi Opare, who spent eight years and his own funds on the project. This lack of official translation underscores a systemic oversight in ensuring broad public understanding of foundational legal texts.
As one commentator noted, "Before the citizen is excluded by legal jargon, she is excluded by language itself." This statement highlights how English serves as a significant barrier, shutting out non-elite citizens from understanding their rights and responsibilities. While FM radio stations translate news, this is a private enterprise, not the Republic speaking directly to its citizens. The official, binding versions of laws and policies remain in English, inaccessible to many.
The implications of this linguistic divide are profound for Ghana's democratic health and economic development. Citizens cannot fully engage with policies that affect their livelihoods, such as fuel levies or school feeding programs, if they cannot understand the official pronouncements. Moving forward, proposals include officially translating core constitutional provisions into major Ghanaian languages. Additionally, budget highlights and the State of the Nation Address should be released in translation on the day they are delivered. Parliament also needs to implement its own Order 63, adopted in 2024, which permits members to speak in Ghanaian languages with interpretation. Two years on, interpreters have not been hired. District assemblies, which already deliberate in local languages, should also keep and publish their records in those languages. These steps would enhance transparency and accountability, allowing more Ghanaians to participate meaningfully in national conversations. The ongoing Constitution Review Committee process presents a unique opportunity for the government to address this historical oversight and publish any rewritten text in the languages of its people, ensuring that the Republic truly speaks to all its citizens.