The leadership, staff and partners of GILLBT on Sunday, June 26, 2022, fellowshipped with the Legon Interdenominational Church (LIC) to launch the organization’s diamond jubilee celebration.
Themed, “Celebrating Sixty Years of Excellence in Mother Tongue Literacy and Bible Translation; Building a Better Nation with Transformed Lives”, the anniversary celebration was launched by Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo who is the Deputy Board Chairperson of GILLBT.
Prof Akosua Adomako Ampofo led the anniversary launch at LIC
Speaking at the launch, Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo chronicled GILLBT’s contribution to Ghana since 1962. Specifically, GILLBT has contributed directly to the development of 39 Ghanaian languages. Out of these languages, 14 have the complete Bible while 20 have the New Testament.
In the area of mother tongue literacy development, GILLBT is the largest contributor to the documentation and analyses of the minority languages of Ghana and has provided the University of Ghana with linguistics and anthropological materials in all of the languages GILLBT works in.
Click here to watch the anniversary launch
She also highlighted the self-managed literacy programmes GILLBT facilitates. These programmes have recorded an impressive 90% success rate since its inception. Each year about 30,000 learners enroll.
In contributing to safeguarding the rights and responsibilities of Ghanaians, GILLBT translated the 1992 Abridged Constitution of Ghana into 24 local languages and has so far reviewed it for six of these languages. In partnership with the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), GILLBT also translated the Rights of the Ghanaian Child and Ghanaian Woman into selected languages. She added that GILLBT has also enhanced the government’s poverty reduction initiative through its literacy programs and is also working with partner organizations to provide basic education in northern Ghana.
The anniversary celebration activities is scheduled to run from July to December 2022 in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale. Below is the anniversary program lineup.
The congregation, led by the LIC Head Pastor, Rev. Yaw Boamah prayed for GILLBT
Mr Edem Senanu, LIC Presiding Elder and some members of the LIC Council of Elders joined GILLBT at a reception after the launch
GILLBT@60 anniversary cloth displayed at the launch