November 9, 2025
Adapted from a contribution by the Bible Society of Ghana.
The Dagaaba people now have access to the full Bible in their heart language, the Dagaare language, thanks to the translation team of the Bible Society of Ghana (BSG).
On November 2, the Dagaare Bible launch was held in Wa, in Ghana’s northwest. It was a memorable time for the Dagaaba people as they received God’s Word in their own language, supporting their personal Christian development and preserving their language and culture.
General Secretary Reflects on Bible Impact
Speaking at the launch, the BSG General Secretary, Very Rev. Dr. John Kwesi Addo Jnr (pictured), noted that, “…today, the Dagaare language, rich in culture and history, becomes a Language of the Living Word. The complete Bible in Dagaare is now ready to shape lives, build families, strengthen communities, and deepen faith.”
He called on the Dagaaba people to receive this gift of the Bible, read it, study it, live by its precepts, and let the truth it contains guide your every step. He added, “Let the Word of God flourish in every home and every heart. I encourage you to purchase copies of the Bible for your children, family members and your loved ones.”
History of Dagaare Project
Rev. Dr. Kennedy Kwame Owiredu, BSG Translation Officer, indicated that it took the team of translators almost 18 years to complete the translation of the Bible into the Dagaare language.
Before the entire Bible was translated into Dagaare, the Dagaaba people could only read the Bible translation of Northern Dagara in neighbouring Burkina Faso, which is difficult to understand, but it was the closest available translation. In 2011, the Gospel of Mark was completed in Dagaare and published as ‘Maako Gane’.
Preserving Culture and Language
The Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Charles LWANGA Puozuing, paid glowing tributes to BSG for achieving the feat of translating the Bible into Dagaare. Hon. Puozuing noted that the Bible in Dagaare will help preserve the language from becoming extinct.
There are more than one million Dagaaba people, comprising communities in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire – including more than 700,000 in Ghana.
