By Jones Anlimah
In a bid to enhance access to the Word of God among Ewe speakers, the Bible Society of Ghana has launched a revised and two-in-one Ewe-English Standard Version Diglot Bible in Ho. The innovative Bible seeks to deepen the spiritual connection of Ewe speakers with God’s Word and also offers a more meaningful engagement devoid of language barriers for Ewe speakers.
The launch of the revised Ewe-Eglish Standard Version Diglot Bible marks a significant milestone in the efforts of the Bible Society of Ghana to ensure that more people have access to the Word of God without encountering language barriers. This initiative aligns with the organisation’s commitment to making the Bible accessible to all, regardless of linguistic backgrounds.
One of the key features of the new Diglot Bible is its ability to bridge language barriers by presenting both Ewe and English versions of the Bible side by side. This bilingual format is expected to facilitate comprehension and spiritual growth among readers.
The innovative Diglot Bible also incorporates an audio version to provide readers with the opportunity to listen to the scriptures in both Ewe and English. This auditory feature further enhances accessibility, particularly for those with visual impairments or those who prefer auditory learning.
The General Secretary of the Bible Society of Ghana, Reverend Dr. Kwesi Addo Junior, expressed excitement and pride in the innovative bible diglot. He said the significance of the bilingual and audio-enabled Bible in breaking language barriers and reaching a wider audience, particularly among Ewe speakers, cannot be downplayed.
Reverend Dr. Addo also underscored the organisation’s commitment to promote biblical literacy and ensuring that the Word of God is accessible to all, regardless of language barriers. He expressed gratitude to the team involved in the production of the Diglot Bible and emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing the mission of the Bible Society of Ghana.
“The Diglot offers a rare opportunity to readers to her the powerful voice of God instantaneously through our precious Ewe language and English language. It allows readers to explore the richness of scriptures in both languages, depending their connection with the word,” Rev Dr. Addo noted.
He added, “secondly, to help correct the growing anomaly wherein many contemporary Ghanaians are reading English language fluently but are very erratic readers in their mother tongue.”
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Rt Reverend Dr. Lt Colonel Bliss Divine Agbeko, commended the efforts of the Bible Society of Ghana in bridging language barriers with its efforts to further translate the Word of God into other languages to reach more people.
He encouraged members of the church and, to a large extent, Ewe speakers to utilise the Diglot Bible for spiritual growth while highlighting the significance of engaging with the scriptures in a language that resonates with their hearts and minds. “It is good to hear God speak to you in your mother tongue. Your mother tongue is the language which your parents spoke to you from birth. Some parents are spoiling their children because they think that it is only when their children speak in English that they become clever, but that is not true,” he said.
The Moderator added, “If you speak Ewe, you are smarter and clever because the Ewe language is difficult, and if you can speak it, you can learn any other language on earth.”
This is the third diglot Bible after similar versions in Ashanti Twi and Ga languages. Attendees expressed their enthusiasm for the new Ewe-ESV Diglot Bible, highlighting its potential to deepen their understanding and relationship with God.
