languages in Ghana

The Republic of Ghana, formerly called the Gold Coast and British Togoland with a population of about 20,757,032. The National or official language: English. Literacy rate: 36% (1992 UNESCO). Also includes Foodo (1,000), Klao, Lobi, Mòoré. Information mainly from E. Hall 1983; J. Bendor-Samuel 1989; GILLBT 1970–1999. Blind population: 60,418. Deaf institutions: 20. The number of languages listed for Ghana is 79. Of those, all are living languages. languages _________ Adangbe Population total all countries: 2,000. Border area with Togo directly east of Ho. Agotime are mainly in Ghana. Volta Region. Ghana towns are Kpoeta, Apegame, and others. Also spoken in Togo. Alternate names: Dangbe, Adantonwi, Agotime, Adan. Dialects: Close to Igo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Kposo-Ahlo-Bowili Adele 11,000 in Ghana (2003). East central border with Togo. Upper Adele is in Togo, Lower Adele in Ghana. Alternate names: Gidire, Bidire. Dialects: Upper Adele, Lower Adele. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Basila-Adele Ahanta 142,000 (2003). Southwest coast. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Bia, Southern Akan 8,300,000 (2004 SIL). Population includes 2,800,000 Asante Twi, 1,900,000 Fante, 555,000 Akuapem Twi (2004). The Asante are south central, Ashanti Province. The Akuapem are southeast, in areas north of Accra. The Fante are south central, between Winneba, Takoradi, and Obuasi. Dialects: Fante (Fanti, Mfantse), Akuapem (Akwapem Twi, Twi, Akuapim, Akwapi), Asante (Ashante Twi, Asanti, Achanti), Agona, Dankyira, Asen, Akyem Bosome, Kwawu (Kwahu), Ahafo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Akan Akposo 7,500 in Ghana (2003). Southern. Alternate names: Kposo, Ikposo, Akposso. Dialects: Amou Oblou, Ikponu, Iwi (Uwi), Litime (Badou), Logbo, Uma. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Kposo-Ahlo-Bowili Anufo 66,000 in Ghana (2003). Population total all countries: 137,600. Northeast around Wawjayga. Also spoken in Benin, Togo. Alternate names: Chokosi, Chakosi, Kyokosi, Tchokossi, Tiokossi. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Bia, Northern Anyin 250,000 in Ghana (2003). Between Abron to the north, Nzema to the south, Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Twi to the east. The Aowin dialect is in Ghana. Alternate names: Anyi, Agni. Dialects: Aowin (Brissa, Brosa). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Bia, Northern Avatime 24,000 (2003). Southeast, center at Amedzofe (Amajofe). Alternate names: Afatime, Sideme, Sia. Dialects: Close to Nyangbo, Tafi. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Avatime-Nyangbo Awutu 180,000 (2003). Coast, west of Accra. Dialects: Awutu, Efutu, Senya. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Guang, South Guang Bimoba 120,000 (2004 SIL). Ethnic population: 200,000. Northeast, Gambaga District, south of Kusaasi, north of Konkomba. Alternate names: Moar, Moor. Dialects: Related to Moba of Togo, but not inherently intelligible with it. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Gurma, Moba Bissa 165,900 in Ghana (2003). Northeast. Alternate names: Bisa. Dialects: Lebir (Western Bisa), Baraka (Eastern Bisa). Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Eastern, Bissa Buli 150,000 (2003 GILLBT). Sandema District. None in Burkina Faso. Alternate names: Builsa, Bulisa, Kanjaga, Guresha. Dialects: Konni is the closest language. Lexical similarity 77% with Mampruli. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Buli-Koma Chakali 6,000 (2003 GILLBT). East of Wa. Ducie is largest village. Dialects: Lexical similarity is 62% with Tampulma, 68% with Vagla. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Southern, Grusi, Western Dagaare, Southern 700,000 (2003). 1,000,000 including Northern Dagara in Burkina Faso (2003). Northwest corner of Ghana, western part of Upper West Region. Alternate names: Southern Dagari, Dagari, Dagara, Degati, Dagati, Dogaari, Dagaare. Dialects: Dagaare and Birifor are partially intelligible. It is distinct from Northern Dagara in Burkina Faso. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Western, Northwest, Dagaari-Birifor, Dagaari Dagbani 800,000 (2004 SIL). Northeast around Tamale and as far as Yendi. Alternate names: Dagbane, Dagomba, Dagbamba. Dialects: Nanuni (Nanumba). Lexical similarity 95% with Mampruli, 90% with Talni, 89% with Kusaal. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Western, Southeast Dangme 800,000 (2004 SIL). Southeast, coast east of Accra and inland. Alternate names: Adangme. Dialects: Ada, Ningo, Osu, Shai, Gbugbla, Krobo. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Ga-Dangme English Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English Éwé 2,250,500 in Ghana (2003). Population total all countries: 3,112,400. Southeast corner. Also spoken in Togo. Alternate names: Eibe, Ebwe, Eve, Efe, Eue, Vhe, Gbe, Krepi, Krepe, Popo. Dialects: Anglo (Anlo), Awuna, Hudu, Kotafoa. Westernmost language of the Gbe language cluster. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Gbe Ga 600,000 (2004 SIL). Southeast, coast around Accra. Alternate names: Amina, Gain, Accra, Acra. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Ga-Dangme Gonja 230,000 (2004 SIL). In the southern part of the Northern Region, west central Ghana, around the upper branches of the Volta Lake, and from the Black Volta River to the area on both sides of the White Volta. Alternate names: Ngbanyito. Dialects: Gonja, Choruba (Choroba). It is not intelligible with Chumburung. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Guang, North Guang Hausa Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, West, A, A.1 Kabiyé North. Alternate names: Kabire, Cabrai, Kabure, Kabye, Cabrais. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Southern, Grusi, Eastern Konkomba 500,000 in Ghana (2003). Population total all countries: 550,100. Northeast border area around Guerin, Yendi District. Many groups are scattered throughout north central Ghana. Also spoken in Togo. Alternate names: Likpakpaln, Kpankpam, Kom Komba. Dialects: Lichabool-Nalong, Limonkpel, Linafiel, Likoonli, Ligbeln. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Gurma Larteh 74,000 (2003 GILLBT). A pocket in the Ga and Twi areas, south of Cherepon. Alternate names: Late, Lete, Gua. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Guang, South Guang Mampruli 220,000 in Ghana (2004 SIL). East and west of Gambaga, northeast Northern Region. Also spoken in Togo. Alternate names: Mamprule, Manpelle, Ngmamperli. Dialects: Eastern Mampruli, Western Mampruli. 50% intelligibility of Dagbani. Lexical similarity 95% with Dagbani, 90% with Farefare. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Western, Southeast Nzema 262,000 in Ghana (2004 SIL). Population total all countries: 328,700. Southwest corner. Also spoken in Côte d'Ivoire. Alternate names: Nzima, Appolo. Dialects: Evalue. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Bia, Southern Sisaala, Tumulung 105,000 (2003 GILLBT). North central, Tumu District. Alternate names: Sisai, Issala, Hissala, Sisala Tumu, Isaalung. Dialects: Isala, Gil Bagale (Galebagla), Nsihaa, Potule. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Southern, Grusi, Western Sisaala, Western 30,000 (2003 GILLBT). North central, Lambusie and surrounding towns. Alternate names: Busillu Sisala, Sisai, Issala, Hissala. Dialects: Close to Sissala of Burkina Faso. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Southern, Grusi, Western Tuwuli 11,400 (2003 GILLBT). Volta Region, from Volta Lake eastward to Amanfro on the Hohoe-Jasikan road. Not found in Togo. Alternate names: Bowiri, Bowili, Liwuli, Siwuri, Bawuli, Tuwili. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Left Bank, Kposo-Ahlo-Bowili Wali 138,000 (2003). Northwest corner. Alternate names: Waali, Wala, Ala, Ouala. Dialects: Fufula, Yeri Waali, Cherii, 'Bulengee, 'Dolimi. Distinct from Birifor and Dagaari. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Northern, Oti-Volta, Western, Northwest Wasa 309,000 (2003). Southwestern Ghana. Alternate names: Wasaw, Wassa. Dialects: Amenfi, Fianse. Some intelligibility of Abron. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Akan