France encourages Ghanaian soldiers to learn French
Mr Frederick Clavier, French Ambassador on Monday inaugurated a French Language Centre at the Airborne Garrison in Tamale.
The facility which was the sixth to be provided by the French Government is furnished with accessories including computers at the cost of 12,000 Euros and has the capacity to accommodate 30 learners at a time.
Mr Clavier observed that the learning of the French language by the Ghana Army would enhance the cooperation between Ghana and France.
He said the first Language Centre for the Army was built in 2005.
Mr Clavier commended Ghana for nurturing a beautiful democratic culture and promoting peace and stability.
These he said are good values that had encouraged France in its bilateral relations and support.
Mr Oklety Terlabi, Deputy Defence Minister said the increasingly competitive world and globalisation had made international communication a necessity, saying: “Knowledge of more than one language brightens the prospects of professionals.”
He said in the bid to imbibe in the personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, the French language, a number of initiatives such as French competition was held in January, whilst a pocket-size French to English aide memoires were distributed to the troops.
The minister said since the inception of the centres, more than 500 soldiers of all ranks and some civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence had been trained in basic, intermediate and advanced French courses.
He said plans are in the offing to establish similar centres in Ho and Sunyani.
Lieutenant Colonel Twumasi Ampofo Gyekye, Acting Garrison Commander of Airborne Force said the provision of the language centres had created a positive rapport between the French troops and their Ghanaian counterparts.
Source: GNA
I’ll suggest to the French minister that there are “beautiful” languages called Fanti or Twi, widely spoken in Ghana and in 50yrs maybe around the world.. perhaps the French need to learn to speak Twi……
Twi, Akan and other local languages have their beauty and role in life. However, when regional conflicts breakout in Mali, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, and elsewhere, I’d put my money on French serving the greater need. Soyons raisonables.
Right on point Jess! Our local languages are adorable and indispensable to our cultural integrity, but they cannot take us anywhere far when it comes to regional and global armed crises. The knowledge of French and English by our beloved soldiers will save their lives in the dangerous French speaking areas where they keep peace.