Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has pledged government support towards the preservation and promotion of Guan languages and cultural heritage.
Ms Gomashie said the Guan people occupy an important place in Ghana’s history and national identity, having been among the earliest settlers of the country.
The Minister pledged when she represented President John Dramani Mahama at the 30th Guan Congress held in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region last Saturday.
The congress, which marked three decades of promoting Guan unity, heritage and development, was held on the theme: “Harmonising Resources in Guan Communities for Inclusive and Sustainable Development.”
She noted that Guan communities stretching from Anum and Larteh to Krachi and Avatime had preserved distinctive traditions, cultural practices and governance systems that continue to contribute to Ghana’s rich cultural diversity.
A major focus of her address was the preservation of Guan indigenous languages, which she said required both government support and active participation from the communities themselves.
She assured the President of the Guan Congress that the Bureau of Ghana Languages, an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, was ready to collaborate with stakeholders in Guan communities to develop and document orthographies for posterity.
According to her, the Bureau had already successfully launched four orthographies and was preparing to launch three more before the end of 2026.
“The Bureau of Ghana Languages is ready to collaborate with stakeholders in the Guan communities to develop and document orthographies to preserve our indigenous languages for posterity.” She said
Ms Gomashie, however, cautioned that government interventions alone could not guarantee the survival of indigenous languages if community members failed to use and transmit them to younger generations.
She urged parents and community leaders to encourage children to speak their indigenous languages, stressing that language preservation must begin within families and communities.
She further disclosed that, as part of actions outlined in the 2026 Cultural Policy of Ghana, the Ministry would undertake activities aimed at supporting the Guan people and strengthening their cultural heritage.
Beyond language preservation, Ms Gomashie also underscored the importance of Ghana’s indigenous knowledge systems, traditions, songs, dances, crafts and governance structures, describing them as valuable expressions of ancestral wisdom that continue to shape the country’s identity.
The 30th Guan Congress brought together representatives and stakeholders from Guan communities to celebrate their heritage, reflect on their development challenges and explore opportunities for greater unity and sustainable development.
Ms Gomashie’s participation formed part of government’s broader engagement with traditional and cultural stakeholders to strengthen Ghana’s cultural heritage and ensure that indigenous languages and traditions are preserved for future generations.
