Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has said there is the need to promote the French Language across the country.
He said a study conducted by the Foundation for International Development Study and Research revealed that if countries share a common language it boosts their international trade by about 30 per cent.
He said this was because the common language factor makes it easier for businesses to move across borders.
Dr Opoku Prempeh said this in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of French E-Learning Platform (FeLP), initiated by Espace Francophone Ghana in partnership with Crystal Galaxy College and Metlite.
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Dr Opoku Prempeh said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a fluent French speaker, strongly believes that bilingualism was part of quality education and represents an asset for access to employment especially multilateral businesses.
He said whereas formal international trade within West Africa is estimated to be just about five per cent of the sub regions’ total trade, the informal international trade was estimated to be at least three times this number with people travelling across the borders to trade.
He said although there seems to be several challenges facing such traders, the most prominent is the French-English language divide, as such, if Ghanaians learn French, the number of transactions within Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) could increase.
“Of course, English being our official language gives us important leverage, but to go the extra mile to acquire language skills in French puts us at an extra advantage”, he added.
Mr Alain Ferolle Mboungou, the Platform Coordinator, said the course to be offered on the platform is meant for adults with a good command in the English Language already, and that it was divided into three modules; beginner, intermediate and proficiency.
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Mr Mboungou urged the public especially students not to learn compulsively; adding that “the best way we believe, is to learn gradually and consistently from the beginning to the end”.
Mrs Julie Fournier, Cooperation Attaché at the French Embassy, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency also stressed the importance for Ghanaians to learn the French language.
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Mrs Fournier said many are interested in the language, however, some may have had some bad experience when they were in junior high or senior high schools.
She said however, more Ghanaians were aware that if they want to have an advantage on the job market or make a difference, they needed to speak French.
“I think the awareness is here, but sometimes people may lack time to attend classes; it is interesting to have different types of learning and teaching, so you can go to Alliance Francaise and attend classes but to compliment that you can follow online courses”, she added.
