John Mahama
Former President John Mahama has expressed worry about how governments and institutions of state “treat persons of different cultural and language backgrounds differently and in a discriminatory manner.”
“One’s language and background shouldn’t be the measure to his or her access to opportunity, public goods or services. I do not think it serves our collective conscience right as a people for persons of Zongo tribes including Hausas to face challenges including open discrimination when trying to register for their voters ID card, Passport, NIA card, etc,” he added.
He was speaking during the World Hausa Day event at the forecourt of the State House last Friday.
Tribe or ethnicity, he said, should not be the defining criteria of citizenship. “We are a nation that is united and great as a result of our diversity. This is most unfair and this must stop!” he added.
As we celebrate this day, he said “we must all strive for unity of purpose and coexistence. Whatever our ethnic origin, we are all first and foremost Ghanaians, we are all one people with a common destiny.”
He described as progressive “that most of the Radio and TV stations in Ghana today have programmes that communicate in the Hausa language to reach their ever-growing audience in the Zongos. The likes of Marhaba FM, Zuria FM, Alpha Radio, Aske Radio, Gaskia TV, Baina TV and many others are doing very well to educate and inform our Zongo brethren using the Hausa language. They deserve the most of commendations and support from us.”
The theme for the celebration was “Hausa, an indispensable tool for Ghana’s development.”
Since the entry of the Hausa merchants and Muslim priests from Northern Nigeria into Ghana, the language has taken root and continued to expand with almost every zongo now speaking the Hausa language, he said.
This, he added, “is a testament to how attractive and inclusive the character of the Hausa language has been.”
The people of Hausa descent have contributed significantly to the course of our dear nation right from the processes leading to the birth of our dear nation – Ghana, he said.
Though the Northern soldiers were not limited to only persons of Hausa descent, Hausas played an immensurable role and support for the struggle for the independence of Ghana through the active role of the Northern soldiers, he went on.
The Hausa language is celebrated annually through the Hausa Day event.
By A.R. Gomda