Languages of Ghana


is a multilingual country in which about eighty languages are spoken. Of these, English, which was inherited from the colonial era, is the official language and lingua franca. Of the languages indigenous to Ghana, Akan is the most widely spoken.
Ghana has more than seventy ethnic groups, each with its own distinct language. Languages that belong to the same ethnic group are usually mutually intelligible. The Dagbanli and Mampelle languages of Northern Region, for instance, are mutually intelligible with the Frafra and Waali languages of the Upper West Region of Ghana. These four languages are of Mole-Dagbani ethnicity.
Eleven languages have the status of government-sponsored languages: three Akan ethnic languages and two Mole-Dagbani ethnic languages. The others are Ewe, Dangme, Ga, Nzema, Gonja, and Kasem.

Government-sponsored languages

The number of government-sponsored languages is either eleven or nine, depending on whether or not Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi, and Fante are considered a single language. They are supported by the Bureau of Ghana Languages, which was established in 1951 and publishes materials in the languages; during the periods when Ghanaian languages were used in primary education, these were the languages which were used. All these languages belong to the Niger–Congo language family, though to several different branches.

Akan (Asante Twi, Fante and Akuapem Twi)

, part of the Kwa branch of the Niger–Congo family, is a dialect continuum, but, with regard to official status, only three out of the many varieties of Akan are recognised: Asante Twi, Akuapem Twi, and Fante. Taken as a whole, Akan is the most-widely spoken language in Ghana.

Ewe

is a Gbe language, part of the Volta–Niger branch of the Niger–Congo family. The Ewe Language is spoken in Ghana, Togo and Benin with a trace of the language in West Nigeria.

Dagbani

is one of the Gur languages. It belongs to the larger Mole-Dagbani ethnic group found in Ghana and Burkina Faso. It is spoken by Dagombas in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Dangme

is one of the Ga–Dangme languages within the Kwa branch. It is spoken in Greater Accra, in south-east Ghana and Togo.

Dagaare

is another of the Gur languages. It is spoken in the Upper West Region of Ghana. It is also spoken in Burkina Faso.

Ga

is the other Ga–Dangme language within the Kwa branch. Ga is spoken in south-eastern Ghana, in and around the capital Accra.

Nzema

is one of the Bia languages, closely related to Akan. It is spoken by the Nzema people in the Western Region of Ghana. It is also spoken in the Ivory Coast.

Kasem

is a Gurunsi language, in the Gur branch. It is spoken in the Upper Eastern Region of Ghana. It is also spoken in Burkina Faso.

Gonja

is one of the Guang languages, part of the Tano languages within the Kwa branch along with Akan and Bia. It is spoken in the Northern Region of Ghana and Wa

Languages spoken in Ghana by number of speakers

This chart reflects data provided by Ethnologue.
RankLanguageSpeakers
1English9,800,000
2Akan/Twi9,100,000
3Ghanaian Pidgin English5,000,000
4Ewe3,820,000
5Abron1,170,000
6Dagbani1,160,000
7Dangme1,020,000
8Dagaare924,000
9Konkomba831,000
10Ga745,000
11Farefare638,000
12Kusaal535,000
13Mampruli316,000
14Gonja310,000
15Sehwi305,000
16Nzema299,000
17Wasa273,000
18Sisaala, Tumulung219,000
19Sisaala, Western219,000
20Bimoba176,000
21Ahanta175,000
22Ntcham169,000
23Buli168,000
24Bisa166,000
25Kasem149,000
26Tem134,000
27Cherepon132,000
28Birifor, Southern125,000
29Anufo91,300
30Wali84,800
31Larteh74,000
32Siwu71,900
33Chumburung69,000
34Anyin66,400
35Nafaanra61,000
36Krache58,000
37Lelemi48,900
38Deg42,900
39Paasaal36,000
40Kabre, 35,642
41Avatime27,200
42Kulango, Bondoukou27,000
43Sekpele23,000
44Delo18,400
45Jwira-Pepesa18,000
46Gua17,600
47Tampulma16,000
48Kulango, Bouna15,500
49Ligbi15,000
50Nawuri14,000
51Vagla13,900
52Tuwuli11,400
53Selee11,300
54Adele11,000
55Nkonya11,000
56Gikyode10,400
57Dwang8,200
58Akposo7,500
59Logba7,500
60Nkami7,000
61Hanga6,800
62Nyangbo6,400
63Chakali6,000
64Ghanaian Sign Language6,000
65Safaliba5,000
66Tafi4,400
67Fulfulde, Maasina4,240
68Adangbe/Dangbe4,000
69Konni3,800
70Adamorobe Sigh Language3,500
71Chala3,000
72Kamara3,000
73Kantosi2,300
74Kusuntu2,100
75Nchumbulu1,800
76Kplang1,600
77Dompo970
78Animere700
79HausaUnclear
80LamaUnclear
81NawdmUnclear

Language classification

The language of Ghana belong to the following branches within the Niger–Congo language family:
Older classifications may instead group them as Kwa, Gur, and Mande.