As part of efforts to strengthen and showcase the Hausa language and culture worldwide, the Palace of Greater Accra Hausa Chief in collaboration with the Centre for Hausa Research and Culture and Precision Entertainment Has celebrated this year’s annual World Hausa Day in Ghana. The celebration was also aimed at resolving the challenges confronting Hausa Communities in Ghana and the way forward. World Hausa Day is an internationally recognized day set aside to celebrate the culture and language of the Hausa people worldwide and their contribution to global peace and development.
Hausas are endowed with rich and attractive culture and the language is widely spoken in Sub-Saharan Africa particularly West Africa as well as other parts of the world. Hausa is widely spoken by multitudes of people in approximately 32 African countries where they migrated for various reasons. History about the Hausa people was the order of the day at the event. Rich culture and tradition were also on display. 
Islamic Scholars, Chiefs and Opinion leaders from various Zangos and Hausa Communities within the Greater Accra Region graced the occasion to contribute their quota in the historical migration of the Hausa people from Nigeria to various African countries with a focus on Ghana.
Speaking at the event the organizer Fahd Adam stated that he brought this initiation to bring peace, unity and Harmony among Hausa speakers and other tribes. Fahd Adam who doubles as a Journalist revealed that the ancestral home of Hausa is linked to Northern Nigeria eventually spilling over into the Republic of Niger and some parts of Africa. Hausa, according to him is the largest ethnic group, not only in Nigeria but in West Africa. Through trade and other business-related activities, the Hausa language has become ubiquitous in Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, The Gambia among other countries.
According to him, the Hausa language is endowed with a high degree of cultural, linguistic as well as religious uniformity adding that the word Hausa is both Linguistic and an Ethnic term. Mr. Fahd asserted that for hundreds of years, the major Ethnic groups in West Africa- such as the DYULA and the HAUSA have moved from one area to another either as Islamic scholars or as Traders.
On his part, Alhaji Imurana Billa Ango, the spokesperson of the Greater Accra Hausa Chief and the Zango Chief of Kwashiman, appealed to the government and the Ghana Education Service to introduce the Hausa language in basic schools curriculum since Hausa has been recognized as an international language. There are differences between Hausa and Islam he added. Hausa he said is a tribe whereas a Muslim is someone who practices the Islamic religion. He said most crimes committed by people bearing Muslim names are attributed to Hausa due to the similarity of names.
He called on Hausa Communities in Ghana to live in peace with all tribes and channel their energies into productive ventures that will bring progress and development to the Hausa Communities and the country at large. In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Zango Development Fund, Dr. Arafat Sulemana Abdulai expressed his gratitude to the Greater Accra Hausa Chief, Alhaji Sarki Mohammed Kabir English and the entire planning committee for organizing such an educative program.
According to him, under the visionary leadership of President Akufo-Addo and the globally acclaimed competent Vice President Dr. Alhaji Bawumia, the Zango Development Fund has been established as the frontline governmental body responsible for the development of Zango communities in Ghana. Adding that in identifying Zango Communities, two cardinal features are generally acknowledged and accepted which are the religion of Islam and the Hausa language. Dr. Arafat Sulemana Abdulai stated that it is incontestable that the medium of communication with the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants of Zango is the HAUSA language adding that it is a matter of pride to all Hausas that Hausa is an international language spoken in several African countries and in the Diaspora. Hausa he said is one of the few languages used by international broadcast titans such as the BBC, Deutsche Welle, VOA among others. ZoDF associates itself with and recognizes the crucial importance of the Hausa language and the 2021 World Hausa Day celebration is in synchronization with the mandate of the Fund.
“In addition to the provision of educational and health infrastructure, Economic Empowerment, Peace and Security, Skills Acquisition, the promotion of Culture and Tradition is an integral part of our activities” he noted. Dr. Arafat assured that the leadership of the Hausa Community in Ghana of the unwavering commitment of government to the progress and further development of Zango Communities and congratulated the entire Zango community on the celebration of World Hausa Day on August 26, 2021.
Source: WadataOnline.com/Muhammed Faisal Mustapha
