Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has reaffirmed plans to introduce the use of Ghanaian local languages during parliamentary proceedings, describing it as a vital step toward promoting cultural identity and inclusive governance.
The announcement was made during the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan, where the Speaker highlighted the importance of integrating indigenous languages into national discourse to foster greater public participation and ownership of the democratic process.
“No society develops with the language of another society,” Bagbin stated. “We want our language to be heard on the floor. So, we are going to start very soon.”
He explained that Ghana’s Standing Orders already make provisions for such inclusivity. Specifically, Standing Order 63 permits Members of Parliament to use their native languages, provided they are translated into English for the broader understanding of the House.
“It is captured in our standing orders for all MPs to use their mother tongue, so long as they can symphoniously translate into the official language of English,” he noted.
To support this initiative, Speaker Bagbin revealed that Parliament will soon recruit language experts to serve as interpreters during debates and deliberations.
This is not the first time the Speaker has proposed the use of local languages in Parliament. The initial announcement was made on February 16, 2024, when he cited the same provision under Standing Order 63, emphasizing the need for linguistic diversity in lawmaking and civic engagement.
The move is expected to enhance accessibility and deepen citizen involvement, especially among communities where English is not the primary language of communication.
