PREAMBLE

It is proposed for the consideration of patrons, the establishment of a facility to be known as the GaDangme Research Institute (GDRI) (hereafter, the Institute).

 

The Institute shall be concerned primarily with the preservation, documentation and promotion of GD heritage. It shall work in concert with individuals and institutions that share similar goals and objectives.

 

It is intended to be an academic institution which shall draw from and commit to programmes and activities targeted at promoting the historical, cultural and religious heritage of the GD people.

 

Rationale:

The need to preserve the GD heritage is a matter of grave concern given the rate of attrition of our cultural traditions in a modern, globalised and multicultural world. The deterioration is palpably felt in the use of Ga and Dangme languages. There have been calls in recent times to arrest the decline in the teaching of these languages in our schools and institutions and their general use as means of communication.

 

The reason other areas of our treasured heritage have also been affected is because language is the bearer of culture. We are aware that our traditional councils, chieftaincy institutions, governmental and non-governmental institutions, GaDangme groups and some individuals have responded to these calls in varied ways at one time or another.

 

The Institute has therefore been set up to help and to respond to specific ways as outlined in this proposal in the hope of contributing to these concerted efforts.