The Multilingual Situation of Ghana and How Multilingualism Contributes to National Development

Abstract

The main concern of this paper is to address how multilingualism has become very common around the world. It is asserted that about half of the world’s population speaks more than one language. The greatest challenge facing policy makers today is how to maintain national cohesion through language policy for schools in the country. The challenge in language education is not only to ensure a meaningful mother- tongue education, but also to evolve a viable programme in which both mother tongue and other tongue teaching reinforce each other. It is revealed that the additive multilingualism method is encouraged to avoid language shift which will eventually lead to its death. There is the problem of communication. The nation cannot function unless there are one or more languages that can be used for national communication and administration. It is realized that if a choice has to be made, it will be very difficult to determine the relevant criteria to be used in making the choice. It is also realized that in terms of education, the particular language to be used as the media of instruction and which should be taught only as subjects will be a major problem. Finally, it is concluded that, if a choice has to be made, the basis for recognition of the ‘approved languages’ will also be problematic.