Saboba (N/R), April 5, GNA - The Chiefs and people of the Konkomba Traditional Area have appealed to the government to, as a matter of urgency, include Likpakpaaln (Konkomba language) in the National Literacy Accelerated Programme (NALAP).

This would enable their children to use their mother tongue in the early stages of their life in school. The Konkombas made the appeal at the weekend at Saboba during the dedication of the second edition of the Konkomba Bible. The occasion was also used to honour Miss Mary Steele and Margret Longdon who had contributed to the development of the language since 1962. The event saw the commissioning of Radio Kitawoln, a community radio which would use the local language to broadcast developmental issues affecting the people.

They said a lot of literature had already been developed and documented on the language and the inclusion of the language would enhance the pupils' learning and understanding of the English Language. Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communications, commended the chiefs and people of the area for establishing community radio as an integral part of the development agenda in building social cohesion.

He said the establishment of the radio station was in line with the government's development plans since government intends to provide each district in the country with a radio station, adding that he would facilitate the acquisition of licenses for Radio Kitawoln. The Minister noted that freedom of expression had been guarantied by the 1992 constitution but cautioned that there were exceptions which include the publication or broadcast of matters which constituted a threat to National Security, public order and morality.

Mr Iddrisu said the government would always maintain cordial relations with the media and in turn expects the media to be fair, objective and truthful while partnering with government in promoting national cohesion and sustainable development.

Mr Alfred Kotin, Programme Manager of the Rural Integrated Literacy Development Programme (RILADEP) said the programme to develop, codify the Konkomba language started in 1962, and that the language currently had a standardized Bible and a dictionary about the language. He said literature on the 1992 constitution, the New and the Old Testament of the Bible, guinea worm and HIV/AIDS had all been translated into the Konkomba language to make it easier for both the educated and non-educated to read.

Mr Kotin said RILADEP had contributed significantly to the educational and spiritual development of the people of Saboba and urged the government to collaborate with the organization to do more to improve the lives of the people. Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister, cautioned the media to be circumspect in their reportage since the media could make and unmake, adding that "We don't want Rwanda in Ghana". He appealed to the people of the Konkomba area to continue living in harmony and to iron out any differences among them amicably. 5 April 10