Honouring Margaret Langdon and the Missionary Contributions to Ghana

The government of Ghana has again conferred the state honour of the Member of the Order of Volta on another GILLBT veteran missionary Ms Margaret Langdon.

Her award and a citation, signed by the President of Ghana His Excellency John Dramani Mahama was presented to her at the National Honours and Award ceremony held on Saturday 29th October 2016, at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana Edward Doe Adjaho made the presentation on behalf of the state.
Her citation read:

“You came to Ghana in 1973 and worked in the Finance Office of the Summer Institute of Linguistics(SIL) until 1975 when you were assigned to the Mampruli Language Project to assist in the Linguistic analysis of that language. In 1976, you were assigned to promote literacy among the Konkomba people.

With the help of the indigenes and linguistic consultants, you led in the production of Konkomba reading materials in different thematic areas including Health, Agriculture and Social Studies.

Through your effective skills in literacy and mission works, you successfully teamed up with another volunteer, Ms. Steele and effectively lived among the Konkomba people and interacted with them to achieve the following:

* Publication of the Konkomba edition of the Bible

* Publication of the Konkomba-English, English-Konkomba Dictionary

* Production of primers in Konkomba for teaching purposes

* Supported indigenes to write books in the Konkomba language

You facilitated the formation of a literacy Committee to assist in the promotion of literacy among the Konkombas and neighbouring communities in the Yendi, Nanumba and East Gonja distriscts in the Northern region and Nkwanta and Krachie Districts of the Volta Region. The literacy campaign was also extende to Kintampo, atebbu and Sene Districts of the Brong Ahafo Region and Ejura/Sekyidumasi District of Ashanti Region. During this period your means of transport were a motorised bicycle and a single cabin pick-up vehicle.

Your strenuous effort in fighting illiteracy among the Konkomba people led to the enrolment of many children in formal school, many of whom proceeded to tertiary levels of education. Today many of the pupils you showed the light of education are prominent citizens contributing immensely to the development of the country”.

While Margaret Langdon is deserving of this honour, and more, it is critical to stress that her contribution is not unique. She is representative of generations of expatriates, beginning with our founding Director, Dr John Bendor Samuel, who gave the best of their years to the service of Ghana through their work with GILLBT.

In congratulating Margaret Langdon on this deserving award, we do so in acknowledgment of the numerous expatriates, who have through their work with GILLBT also made significant contributions to Ghana in language development, literacy, community development and scripture translation.

Ayekoo Margaret!!!