The laws of Ghana define folklore as the literary, artistic and scientific expressions belonging to the cultural heritage of Ghana which are created, preserved and developed by ethnic communities of Ghana or by an unidentified Ghanaian author to pass on information concerning culture and tradition from one generation to the other. But due to cultural assimilation, folklore has been relegated.
However, the Acting Director of the National Folklore Board (NFB) , Nana Adjoa Adobea Asante, has called on heads and teachers to do away with the ‘No vernacular’ signages in our various basic schools.
According to her, this move is a conscious effort aimed at ensuring that our very young ones are exposed to the beauty of our folklore.
Nana Adjoa Asante made these assertions when speaking at the launch of Ghana Folklore Club On 1st March, 2019 at the Mary Mother of Good Counsel School in Accra.
“It is rather sad that the current situation in respect to folklore and our young ones is nothing to write home about. Indeed in most homes now, our young ones are not even exposed to their mother tongue, the L1. Our teachers here will attest to the fact that, the development of the child is greatly improved when he is exposed to the L1. Rather sadly and ironically, in some schools, it is an offence to speak Ghanaian languages in schools. My dear teachers, can we take off the ‘No vernacular’ signages in our schools,” Nana Adjoa Asante opined.
She added that, “ the NFB has taken that bold step to bring back what appears to be disappearing, and there can be no better conduit than through these young ones who are still malleable and open to new and refreshing ideas. Sankofa (yen kyri) we are going back to our roots.”
Present at the launch were the Former Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Afeku; Chairperson for the National Commission for Civic Education, Ms. Josephine Nkrumah; President of the African American Association of Ghana, Gail Nikoi; A Representative the UNESCO Ghana; Former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dzifa Gomashie; Director of the Dubois Centre, Youth Tourism Ambassador and TOSOGHA President, Joseph Amartey and a host of other dignitaries.
The National Folklore Board is the government institution responsible for the registration, administration, promotion and legal protection of Ghanaian expressions of folklore. In line with its mandate to promote local folklore,the Board has instituted a weekly campaign dubbed the “Did You Know Series” which provides information on different aspects of our folklore through the use of innovative infographics.
