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Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly known as Opanin Agyekum has appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to rescind its decison to optionalise the study of Ghanaian language. 

The linguistics professor revealed on Peace FM's Kokrokoo Morning show, that there is an alleged attempt to scrap the local language from the compulsory courses to be studied in schools across the basic and secondary levels. 

On the 21st of February, Ghana observed the International Mothert Tongue Day, a day that seeks to promote the speaking of local lnagugaes amongst people.

It will be recalled that, Parliament, this year, suggested that local dialects be used as part of their parliamentary discourse. 

According to Opanin Agyekum, if local languages are made optional, many teachers who teach such courses will lose their jobs. 

"The purpose for the study of the Ghanaian language is to enable learners to be able to speak and understand the local dialects upon completing the basic education. The study of the course also helps the learners identify themselves as Ghanaians. If it is made optional, a parent can suspend the ward from studying the Ghanaian language which presupposes that Ghanaian language teachers will be relieved of their teaching appointments because the school will not be in need of them''

He added that, "if this is not looked at carefully, our Ghanaian language will be extinct because we will not get persons who will be able to speak the local language."

Opanin Agyekum further added that the current trend of spelling the local names is gradually depleting the Ghanaian identity.