By: Sarah Baafi
Afram Publications Limited has commemorated International Mother Tongue Day with a reading session in Ga and Twi by pupils of Theorose School at Tantra Hills in Accra.
The event, held on Monday, February 23, 2026, formed part of activities marking International Mother Tongue Day, which is observed globally on February 21 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, multilingualism, and the preservation of indigenous languages. The day was proclaimed in 1999 by UNESCO.
Pupils actively participated in reading exercises in the two dominant local languages spoken in Accra Ga and Twi demonstrating confidence and enthusiasm in using their mother tongues in an academic setting.
The Twi reading session was led by Mr. Moses Abrokwa, a teacher at Theorose School, while the Ga reading session was facilitated by Ms. Ruth Patterson from Afram Publications Limited.
Dr. Afram Kwabena Ekremet of Afram Publications Limited explained that the initiative is part of the company’s annual effort to promote local language literacy among pupils.
“Every year, we select a school to mark Mother Tongue Day. Last year we were at Victory Presbyterian School, and this year we chose Theorose School because they have been a good client to us over the years,” he said.
Dr. Ekremet noted that while many schools focus heavily on English and other foreign languages, there is a growing need to intentionally promote local languages among young learners.
“They usually buy English books from us, so this time we wanted to introduce them to our local language books so pupils can experience reading in their mother tongue as well,” he added.
He emphasized that International Mother Tongue Day was established to preserve cultural heritage through language, warning that local dialects risk being lost if deliberate efforts are not made to sustain them.
“If we are not careful, we will lose our local languages because we are doing more English, more French, more Spanish, and neglecting our own. That is why programs like this are important,” Dr. Ekremet explained.
According to him, Afram Publications teaches several Ghanaian languages, including Dagbani and Dagaare, but Ga and Twi were selected for this year’s reading session because of their dominance in the Accra area.
“Since we are in Accra, Ga and Twi are the major languages spoken here, so it was important to focus on them,” he said.
Dr. Ekremet further disclosed plans to expand the initiative to more schools in the coming years to increase awareness and appreciation of mother-tongue education.
“Every year we visit at least one school, but going forward, we hope to reach more schools so the message can spread throughout the community,” he noted.
International Mother Tongue Day highlights the vital role languages play in preserving cultural identity, promoting sustainable development, and fostering peace, particularly among younger generations.
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Source:
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