The Reverend Dr. Kennedy Owiredu, who serves as the Translation Manager at the Bible Society of Ghana, has recommended that Christians acquire a Bible in their native dialects to attain a more precise comprehension of the Scriptures. He stressed that this practice would additionally contribute to the preservation and transmission of their local languages to the succeeding generation.
Reverend Dr. Owiredu shared these insights during the 2023 Translation and Trauma Healing Seminar held at Sefwi-Dwenase Pentecost Central in the Waiwso Municipality of the Western North Region.
The seminar attended by pastors, church leaders and Local Council of churches within the Western North Region was on the theme: “Bible Translation and Mother -tongue Interpretation for Pulpit Ministry.”
Reverend Dr. Owiredu emphasized that one of the primary responsibilities of the Bible Society of Ghana is to translate the Bible into local languages. He encouraged pastors, church leaders, and religious groups to adopt the use of the local Bible in their respective congregations. He expressed concern that without practical measures, many local languages would gradually fade away, as the present generation fails to pass them down to the youth, who represent the future.
Reverend Owiredu also expressed apprehension about the growing trend in some churches that completely disregard the use of the local Bible during their services. He advised such churches to begin incorporating the local Bible into their worship, stating, “The Lord we serve communicates in all our local dialects.”
He called upon the media to support the campaign for Bible translation into various languages by reaching out to the Bible Society for relevant information.
Miss Afua Addae Adjeii-Authur, the Western North Regional Manager of the Bible Society of Ghana, added that they had identified groups supporting people in learning and writing the Sehwi language. Since 2020, they had graduated three groups in Wiawso, Bekwai, and Nkwadum areas, with plans to extend to Akontombra and surrounding areas. This initiative aimed to encourage residents to utilize the Bible, which had been translated into the Sehwi language. She further expressed hopes that the Sehwi language would become a subject in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and mentioned engagement with traditional authorities and stakeholders to make this a reality.
Participants interviewed by the Ghana News Agency commended the Bible Society of Ghana for the seminar and expressed support for the idea of translating the Bible into local languages. They also urged church leaders to make an effort to incorporate the local Bible into their worship services.