A historian at the University of Ghana has highlighted the vital role of language in preserving culture and knowledge, cautioning that Ghana risks losing critical aspects of its identity if indigenous languages vanish.
Kwaku Darko Ankrah, of the Institute of African Studies, told newsmen on Tuesday, March 17, that language goes beyond everyday communication—it is the primary vehicle through which communities transmit culture, philosophy, and knowledge across generations.
“Language itself is part of our culture,” Mr Ankrah said. “In anyone’s socialisation process, language is one of the key tools we use to communicate.”
He explained that language shapes how people understand society and organise their lives.
“What you learn about your people—the way they think, invent, eat, work, and live—is all articulated through language,” he said.
Mr Ankrah added that language carries intellectual traditions, including proverbs, philosophical ideas, and cultural values that guide behaviour and decision-making.
“When someone speaks and pauses to use certain diplomatic language, they often draw on proverbs to resolve issues,” he noted.
He also emphasised that language transmits knowledge in science, religion, and economics, saying:
“Language is not just about words. Your ideas, your philosophy, your culture—even scientific, religious, and economic thinking—are all embedded in language.”
The warning comes amid growing concern over endangered Ghanaian languages. According to the Ghana Library Authority, at least 40 languages are on the verge of extinction. Rapid urbanisation, the dominance of Akan (Twi) and English, and a generational shift in which children prefer English over their mother tongue are accelerating the decline. Critically endangered languages include Nawuri, Tuwuli, and Chala, while the Dump language has already disappeared.
The discussion was partly inspired by a report from The Economist about an elderly woman in North America who was the last speaker of her language—a case often cited in debates about language extinction.
Mr Ankrah urged Ghana to take immediate action to preserve its linguistic heritage, particularly during Ghana Month, to ensure future generations inherit the nation’s cultural and intellectual legacy.