The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has announced that Members of Parliament (MPs) will soon be able to use local languages during parliamentary debates — a move aimed at promoting Ghana’s cultural identity and fostering greater inclusivity in national discourse.
Speaking at the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan, Mr. Bagbin underscored the vital role of linguistic heritage in national development and democratic participation.
“No society develops with the language of another society. So, we have to get the terminology right. We want our languages to be heard on the floor, and we are going to start very soon,” the Speaker said.
He explained that Parliament’s standing orders already permit MPs to use their native languages, provided they can translate their statements into English.
“It is captured in our standing orders that all MPs can use their mother tongue, as long as they can translate it accurately into the official language, English,” he clarified.
To support the initiative, Mr. Bagbin disclosed that language experts and interpreters will be engaged to provide real-time translations during proceedings. “Very soon, we will employ experts in these languages to come and support us as translators,” he noted.
This is not the first time the Speaker has advocated for this change. On February 16, 2024, he cited Standing Order 63, which states that MPs may speak in any local language, provided it is interpreted and translated for the benefit of all members.
The introduction of local languages in parliamentary debates is expected to strengthen citizen engagement, especially among communities that feel disconnected from legislative processes due to language barriers.
Credit: myjoyonline.com
