Parliament to allow local languages in debates – Speaker

Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has announced that Members of Parliament (MPs) will soon be allowed to use local languages during parliamentary debates, in a move aimed at promoting Ghana’s cultural identity and enhancing inclusivity in national discourse.

Speaking at the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan, Mr Bagbin stressed the importance of linguistic heritage in shaping national development and democratic participation.

“No society develops with the language of another society. So, we have to get that terminology we are talking about in place. We want our language to be heard on the floor. So, we are going to start very soon,” the Speaker stated.

He explained that the parliamentary standing orders already permit MPs to speak in their native languages, provided they are able to offer a corresponding translation in English.

“It is captured in our standing orders for all MPs to use their mother tongue, so long as they can symphoniously translate into the official language of English,” he clarified.

To support this initiative, Mr Bagbin revealed that language experts and interpreters will be engaged to facilitate real-time translations during proceedings. “Very soon, we will employ experts in these languages to come and support us as translators,” he added.

This is not the first time the Speaker has proposed such a change. On 16th February 2024, he cited Standing Order 63, which states: “Members of Parliament will be free to use any local language, as long as it is interpreted and translated for the benefit of all.”

The introduction of local languages in parliamentary debate is expected to foster greater citizen participation, particularly among communities who feel disconnected from formal legislative processes due to language barriers.