The Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has launched an initiative to develop and standardise the Buli language for formal inclusion in Ghana’s education system.
The project, which focuses on creating a unified orthography, is aimed at preserving the language from extinction while promoting cultural identity and academic inclusivity.
Speaking at an initial stakeholder engagement involving consultants, traditional authorities, and community members, Dr. Apaak underscored the urgency of safeguarding indigenous languages in the face of modernization.
He said the initiative was inspired by a request from chiefs of the Builsa Traditional Area during the 2025 Feok Festival.
“Language is the window into every culture,” Dr. Apaak said. “If a language is not documented and taught, it risks extinction. We cannot allow Buli to disappear. Our children deserve to learn in their mother tongue, especially at the early stages where research has shown it enhances creativity, comprehension, and innovation.”
The project seeks to harmonise existing writing systems of the Buli language into a standardised form that can be used for teaching, learning, and assessment.
Dr. Apaak acknowledged that previous efforts to develop the language had stalled due to financial constraints and a lack of coordinated leadership.
He said a team of experts, led by linguist Professor Samuel Atintono, has been assembled to guide the process.
The team is expected to work closely with institutions such as the University of Education, Winneba, to ensure the language is formally recognised and integrated into teacher training programmes.
“This is not just about documentation,” Dr. Apaak said. “It is about building a system that produces qualified Buli language teachers who can pass on knowledge to future generations. I am committed to mobilising the necessary resources to make it a reality.”
Professor Atintono, the lead consultant, said the initiative builds on years of earlier work by contributors who developed literacy materials in Buli. However, he noted that the absence of a standardised writing system and trained educators has slowed progress.
“What we are doing is to bring stakeholders together to agree on a unified writing system,” he said. “Once consensus is reached, it will be easier for institutions to adopt the language formally. Our goal is that by 2027, Buli will be among the languages studied in Ghana.”
The initiative has been welcomed by chiefs, retired educationists, youth, and community members, who described it as timely.
Many expressed appreciation to Dr. Apaak for championing efforts to preserve cultural identity while expanding educational opportunities.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Moses Apiah | Builsa South
