Local Languages in Ghana Face Risk of Disappearing in the Digital Age

Experts in Ghana have warned that indigenous languages are at risk of extinction due to the pressures of the digital age. The School of Languages at the University of Ghana has called for urgent and coordinated action to safeguard local languages.

According to officials, rapid technological advancement and inadequate mother-tongue education are deepening inequality and gradually reducing the use of local languages unless deliberate policies are implemented. Professor Isaac Wiafe from the University of Ghana highlighted the link between artificial intelligence, identity, and linguistic justice. He noted that AI systems are largely trained on online data, yet less than one percent of African languages are adequately represented in these systems. As a result, millions of speakers of low-resource languages face the risk of digital exclusion.

Due to the lack of sufficient and high-quality digital content in indigenous languages, AI applications tend to prioritize dominant global languages such as English, creating a vicious cycle that further marginalizes local languages. Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Josephine Dzahene Quarshie emphasized that mother-tongue instruction is not only a matter of cultural identity but also a fundamental component of effective learning. She pointed out that research shows children achieve better academic outcomes when educated in a language they understand best, yet nearly 40 percent of learners worldwide still lack access to education in their home language.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Zia Choudhury, also underscored the central role of language in inclusive education. He stated that language barriers lead to poor literacy, weak academic performance, and deepening inequality. Choudhury called for sustained investment in multilingual education and digital inclusion, particularly in rural and disadvantaged regions.