We’re grateful – BONABOTO tells President Akufo-Addo

The chiefs and people from the environs of the Bolgatanga, Nabdam, Bongo and Tongo (BONABOTO) districts in the Upper East Region have thanked the government for adopting the Gurene language to be taught and examined at the appropriate levels of the educational system in the country.

“We wish to express our appreciation to the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Minister of Education, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh for the swift and decisive action to adopt the Gurene language as a government sponsored language to be taught and examined at the appropriate levels of the educational system in the country,” the President of BONABOTO, Dr Andrews Akolaa, said on behalf of the chiefs and interest groups to the media in Accra.

Promise

In May this year, the Paramount Chiefs of the BONABOTO area appealed to the President to consider the Gurene language to be made examinable during their visit to the Jubilee House to confer with the President on developmental issues.

Subsequently at a special meeting with the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs in October 2020 in Bolgatanga, the President announced to the House that he had considered the request and had directed the Minister of Education to ensure that the Gurene language was adopted as one of the approved Ghanaian languages for teaching and learning as well as for examination at the basic and secondary levels.

“Following the President’s directive, the Ministry of Education by a letter dated November 23, 2020 signed by the Chief Director, Mr Benjamin K. Gyasi on behalf of the Minister of Education issued a Government policy directive to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to take steps to develop the standard-based curriculum in line with NaCCA guidelines for the appropriate levels of education for the Gurene language to commence.

Show of gratitude

“Reacting to this development, which has taken several years of advocacy and demonstrations without results, the chiefs of the BONABOTO area, civil society groups, including the BONABOTO, Gurene Language Development Association, the Terabuureyele and Gurene language experts expressed their sincere thanks to President Akufo-Addo and the Minister of Education for fulfilling this heartwarming promise within a record time,” Dr Akola cheerfully explained.

He said it was indeed great news for BONABOTO and that the people were excited about the good news and “we really thank the President for this show of commitment to the chiefs and People of the BONABOTO area, our language represents our heritage and identity and we have the opportunity now to sustain the language into the future.”

Dr Akola said President Akufo-Addo and Dr Prempeh would be remembered in the annals of the BONABOTO area as partners for development and “for this kind gesture and commitment to the promise.”