Introduction

The Gonga language of Ghana is used by 310,000 speakers. The speakers use the term Ngbanyito. An alternate name is Guang.

The language is classified as Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Guang, North Guang. The ISO code is [gjn]. There are two dialects: Gonja and Choruba.

The speakers are located in the Brong-Ahafo region: Kintampa North district, separate area west; Northern region: Volta lake upper basin. They highly value their language, but some also use English. Gonja is used in education and is recognized by the Laws of the Gold Coast, Vernacular Literature Board Ordinance, as amended by Ordinance No. 44. Literature has been developed in the language using the Latin script since 1970. Speakers of Hanga also learn Gonja.