What is the Ghana language?
The most common language spoken in Ghana is Akan. Ghana has several languages spoken by the Ghanaian people. Do you want to know the different dialects in Ghana? Then keep reading to find out! Listed below are the main languages of Ghana. Learn the difference between Akan, Ga, Dagbani, Ewe, and Nzema! …and much more.
Ghana has over 80 languages spoken across the country. Only about 11 of these languages are classified as government-sponsored languages. These are; Akan ethnic languages (Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi and Fante) and two Mole-Dagbani ethnic languages (Dagaare and Dagbanli). The others include Ewe, Dangme, Ga, Nzema, Gonja, and Kasem.
In this article, we’ll be listing the most popular languages in Ghana.
Akan Language
Fante, Asante Twi, and Akwapim Twi are the three most widely spoken and mutually understood Akan languages. The Asante Twi language is widely spoken. When it comes to Ghana’s native tongues, Akan is by far the most common and commonly utilized.
The Akan people of Ghana speak Akan, a Central Tano language, across the majority of the country’s southern half. It is estimated that 44% of the population of Ghana is fluent in Akan.
Côte d’Ivoire is another country where it is spoken.
Ga
While English is spoken almost everywhere in Accra, its native Ga language is spoken by several people in the country’s capital. Ghanaians, especially those living in and around Accra, speak Ga, a Kwa language. Togo, Benin, and Western Nigeria also have some native speakers.
Ewe
The people of Ghana’s Volta region speak the language of Ewe. It belongs to a group of related languages called the Gbe languages. The major Gbe language is Fon and it is also spoken in Benin and Togo. However, despite its widespread use, there is no definitive definition of the language. Many Voltarians in Ghana speak Ewe, for the most part.
Dagbani
The Dagbani, also known as Dagbanli or Dagbanle in Ghana, is an African language. It is spoken in the Northern part of Ghana and Togo. The Dagbani language in Ghana is also a compulsory subject at primary schools in the northern part of the country.
Nzema
The Nzema people of southwestern Ghana and eastern Ivory Coast speak Nzema, a Central Tano language also known as Nzima or Appolo. It is closely connected to Baoulé and shares some intelligibility with Jwira-Pepesa.
Hausa
The language Hausa is the main lingua franca of northern Nigeria and Ghana. It is the primary language of the majority of the Muslim population in these countries. Though there is no unified Hausa dialect, the language has several distinguishing features.
| Rank | Language | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 9,800,000 |
| 2 | Akan (Fante/Twi) | 9,100,000 |
| 3 | Ghanaian Pidgin English | 5,000,000 |
| 4 | Ewe Dialects of Ɛve include Aŋlo, Tɔŋu, Vɛdomɛ,Gbi, Krepi, among others) | 3,820,000 |
| 5 | Abron | 1,170,000 |
| 6 | Dagbani | 3,160,000 |
| 7 | Dangme | 1,020,000 |
| 8 | Dagaare | 924,000 |
| 9 | Konkomba | 831,000 |
| 10 | Ga | 745,000 |
| 11 | Farefare | 638,000 |
| 12 | Kusaal | 535,000 |
| 13 | Mampruli | 316,000 |
| 14 | Gonja | 310,000 |
| 15 | Sehwi | 305,000 |
| 16 | Nzema | 299,000 |
| 17 | Wasa | 273,000 |
| 18 | Sisaala, Tumulung | 219,000 |
| 19 | Sisaala, Western | 219,000 |
| 20 | Bimoba | 176,000 |
| 21 | Ahanta | 175,000 |
| 22 | Ntcham | 169,000 |
| 23 | Buli | 168,000 |
| 24 | Bisa | 166,000 |
| 25 | Kasem | 149,000 |
| 26 | Tem | 134,000 |
| 27 | Cherepon | 132,000 |
| 28 | Birifor, Southern | 125,000 |
| 29 | Anufo | 91,300 |
| 30 | Wali | 84,800 |
| 31 | Larteh | 74,000 |
| 32 | Siwu | 71,900 |
| 33 | Chumburung | 69,000 |
| 34 | Anyin | 66,400 |
| 35 | Nafaanra | 61,000 |
| 36 | Krache | 58,000 |
| 37 | Lelemi | 48,900 |
| 38 | Deg | 42,900 |
| 39 | Paasaal | 36,000 |
| 40 | Kabre, (language kabre) | 35,642 |
| 41 | Avatime | 27,200 |
| 42 | Kulango, Bondoukou | 27,000 |
| 43 | Sekpele | 23,000 |
| 44 | Delo | 18,400 |
| 45 | Jwira-Pepesa | 18,000 |
| 46 | Gua | 17,600 |
| 47 | Tampulma | 16,000 |
| 48 | Kulango, Bouna | 15,500 |
| 49 | Ligbi | 15,000 |
| 50 | Nawuri | 14,000 |
| 51 | Vagla | 13,900 |
| 52 | Tuwuli | 11,400 |
| 53 | Selee | 11,300 |
| 54 | Adele | 11,000 |
| 55 | Nkonya | 11,000 |
| 56 | Gikyode | 10,400 |
| 57 | Dwang | 8,200 |
| 58 | Akposo | 7,500 |
| 59 | Logba | 7,500 |
| 60 | Nkami | 7,000 |
| 61 | Hanga | 6,800 |
| 62 | Nyangbo | 6,400 |
| 63 | Chakali | 6,000 |
| 64 | Ghanaian Sign Language | 6,000 |
| 65 | Safaliba | 5,000 |
| 66 | Tafi | 4,400 |
| 67 | Fulfulde, Maasina | 4,240 |
| 68 | Adangbe/Dangbe | 4,000 |
| 69 | Konni | 3,800 |
| 70 | Adamorobe Sigh Language | 3,500 |
| 71 | Chala | 3,000 |
| 72 | Kamara | 3,000 |
| 73 | Kantosi | 2,300 |
| 74 | Kusuntu | 2,100 |
| 75 | Nchumbulu | 1,800 |
| 76 | Kplang | 1,600 |
| 77 | Dompo | 970 |
| 78 | Animere | 700 |
| 79 | French | |
| 80 | Hausa | |
| 81 | Lama | |
| 82 | Nawdm |
Do Ghanaians Speak English?
Ghana was a British Crown colony on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa from 1821 until its independence in 1957. Due to this, most Ghanaians speak English and The English language is also a compulsory subject at schools in the country.
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READ ALSO:
Ghana Colonization: British, Portuguese, Gold Coast, Elmina
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