Kwesi Pratt has downplayed the relevance in studying French language in Senior High Schools as widely held by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has disclosed that his government plans to make the study of French language compulsory in all Senior High Schools from next academic year in September.
The government intends to make the language compulsory to promote neighborliness between Ghana and her neighboring countries.
The President made this remark in Togo during a two-day official visit to the country.
According to him, Ghana, which is surrounded by three Francophone countries should be proficient in the French language.
“[I’m] strongly for making French a compulsory language in our schools right up to the end of Senior High School. I’m fortified in taking this decision because as far back as 10 years ago when I left Ghana into la Francophone I did so in Bucharest. The decision was that the Francophone organization will help us with the teachers of French in the schools because at the end of the day everything you did in the education always comes back to the teachers,” he said.
But Kwesi Pratt disagrees with the government because to him, the French language doesn't have an international appeal as compared to the Hausa language.
Contributing to a panel discussion on Friday's edition of "Kokrokoo" on PeaceFM, Mr. Pratt preferred Hausa takes precedence over the French language, and therefore called on the government to make the study of Hausa compulsory instead of French.
“If you want to introduce common language in West Africa to facilitate trade and so forth, the most widely spoken language in West Africa is Hausa not French or English. I don’t know anywhere in Ghana that they don’t speak Hausa. Nigeria which is the largest economy in West Africa, Hausa is the dominant language and so on. So, if we want to promote West Africa trade and so on, why would we promote French instead of Hausa? Hausa is the dominant language in West Africa and Hausa has become an international language…”
To him, Hausa should become the official language in the nation.
“If Hausa is already the widest spoken language in West Africa, why don’t we use Hausa? Why don’t we develop Hausa to become the official language of West Africa if that is what we want? Why do you go for French?
“…so what future are we looking at? Are we looking at the next 5 years? Are we looking at the next 30 years? Are we looking at the next 100 years? What projections have we made that we’re saying French should be a compulsory language in our Senior High Schools?” he questioned.
Mr. Pratt backed his assertions with a claim that "language is carried on the back of economic development and development in scientific technology if your influence in the world is what makes the language grow and thrive” and so if the government wants to market the country, then the choice for French isn't the sure way.
"...if we’re taking a global approach to language as an instrument for business and so on, why French? Why not Chinese? Chinese is more widely spoken than French…Chinese is becoming an international language today…” he said on Peace FM's Kokrokoo.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Opposing for the heck of it!! Tweaaaaaaaaaaa Everyone knows you now. Nation wrecker, bribe taker, Otrofo, kowhi ni
Mr Pratt, I think your arguments are seriously flawed and lack the merit for it to be even considered. Where lies your facts for postulating such claims? Massa this one paah does not fly koraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Please ignore this thing called Kwesi Pratt and lets move on as a nation.
Kwesi start writing your news papers in hausa you have started your dirty politics against npp again as you did in 2001 when you got your bribery money from your pay masters hypocrites allow the leader with vision to work
hmmm! I can't think far Kwesi, Kwesi Prat aah. What is wrong with u?
Yoruba 40million, Igbo 33 million and Hausa 29 million
Hausa is spoken by 44 million people in 12 African countries and Germany. French is spoken by 274 million people in 51 countries including 24 countries in Africa. Half of all French speakers are in Africa, making Africa the continent with the most spoken French. BY THE WAY, I SPEAK HAUSA @ 95% and French @ 35%
This ***barred word*** cruel nation wrecker wouldn't see anything good from NPP,where do we take Hausa to? Kwesi's hatred for NPP is such his analysis are empty.He and his wicked corrupt and incompetent NDC will rot in opposition.
Kwesi I am a northern man from yendi,but I think this u have got it wrong.massa I think u have to go back to the drawing board
Is Kwesi Pratt ok....i think something is wrong upstairs!!!