Koffi Ganyo Agbefle
University of
Ghana, Legon Accra, Ghana
Abstract
The purpose of this
article titled The marginalized status of French in Ghana: A real
misrepresentation by the Media and Academia, is to
highlight the actual status of French in current communication in Ghana, an
Anglophone country. It focuses on demonstrating that the priority placed on
French by the Ghanaian authorities is only apparent. We can even talk of the
pseudo-status of French, with the wide gap that exists between what is said and
what is done in view. Indeed, whereas the authorities in Ghana affirm that
French is the second most important international language in that country, the
reality seems to be different. French remains far from being the linguistic
medium of social discourse in the country .Administrations, international
organizations, the media, and even schools all seem to marginally prioritize
French. Meanwhile, continuous official discussions are held on the importance
of this language to the Anglophone Ghanaian community. Moreover, since 2006,
Ghana has being a partner member of the “Francophonie”; something which
presupposes that aside from English, Ghanaians can also, to an extent, transact
in French, as is the case in the Francophone countries where people somehow
“glean” words to express themselves in English when the need arises.
Unfortunately, such a conclusion is erroneous. Ghana’s “Francophonie” partner
membership status is far from being rooted in her communicative needs. The
teaching of French in schools and the treatment French teachers receive are
enough indicators for us to conclude that, in reality, French is not a priority
in the Ghanaian community and that Ghana will not need a second international
language, after her official language English, which is increasingly more
important than any other foreign language, even local Ghanaian languages
inclusive.
Key
words: Misleading status; international language; Communicative needs; National language(s)
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