AMA commemorates International Mother Language Day with reading sessions at Makola Market
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) organized a special reading session at the 31st Makola Market to celebrate linguistic diversity and promote the importance of preserving mother tongues.
The event, held on February 21st to commemorate the 2024 International Mother Language Day, under the theme “Reading to Connect Minds for Social Transformation,” aimed to rekindle the habit of reading in local dialects and promote intercultural connections.
International Mother Language Day, observed annually on February 21st, was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism worldwide.
Speaking at the opening ceremony ahead of the reading session, the Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth K. T. Sackey, acknowledged the intrinsic value of every language in the city and its role in preserving cultural heritage.
She stressed that language was not just a means of communication but a repository of knowledge, identity, and traditions.
She said the event was part of a series of activities by the AMA to promote the Accra World Book Capital, emphasizing that the reading sessions showcased the beauty and diversity of the various mother tongues exhibited in the city.
She underscored the AMA’s commitment to promoting linguistic diversity and fostering a greater appreciation for mother languages among residents of Accra, stating, “As a melting pot of cultures and languages, Accra embodies the spirit of International Mother Language Day.”
“Events like these are crucial for raising awareness about the importance of linguistic diversity and ensuring that every language has its rightful place in our society,” she added.
She also urged institutions such as the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana School of Languages, and religious bodies to play a major role in promoting local languages to preserve the country’s cultural identity.
She encouraged market women and traders to help save Ghanaian languages from extinction by teaching their children how to read and speak them at home.
President of the Greater Accra Market Association, Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate this year’s event in the market.
She reaffirmed their commitment to preserving linguistic heritage for future generations and pledged continuous support to initiatives promoting multilingualism and cultural exchange in Accra. She was hopeful the event would promote reading among traders.
During the reading sessions, volunteers, including traders, community members, and the Mayor of Accra, took turns reading aloud passages from literary works, poems, and folktales in the Ga and Akan languages.
