The joint Congress of the 29th International Federation of Modern Languages and Literatures (FILLM) and the 33rd West African Linguistic Society (WALS) has been hosted by the University of Ghana.
This prestigious Congress united professionals from academia and the industry in the field of Modern Languages to engage in discussions and seek solutions to contemporary challenges.
The four-day Congress featured an opening ceremony chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo.
In her remarks, Prof. Amfo extended a warm welcome to the participants and expressed her excitement at opening the four-day conference. She revealed that the University of Ghana was the first institution in Africa to host the FILLM Congress and commended the organising team for making this a reality.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the significance of the Congress as a platform for networking and capacity building. She stated, "I am convinced beyond all doubt that this joint Conference/Congress will provide the avenue for more than just research output dissemination, but also, provide a platform for networking which will birth new collaborations, while strengthening existing ones."
Prof. Amfo shared the historical background of the Congress, tracing its origins to her tenure as the Dean of the School of Languages. She explained, "During my second term as Dean of the School of Languages, the School, under my leadership, submitted a bid which was accepted by the International Executives of the International Federation for Modern Languages in the year 2017. The School was subsequently given the mandate to host the 2023 FILLM Conference in Ghana.”
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo
“We then decided, as a School, to merge our biennial School of Languages International Conference (SOLCON) with the FILLM Conference and host them as one big conference in 2023 because the next SOLCON was slated for 2023," she added.
The Vice-Chancellor discussed the two associations, the International Federation for Modern Languages and Literatures, which promotes language and literature studies worldwide and the West African Linguistic Society, which focuses on West African languages and literatures research. She acknowledged the critical role of the two associations in facilitating global scholarly exchange and emphasised that it aligns with one of her objectives as Vice-Chancellor, which is to promote the development of programmes that enhance the dissemination of research outputs.
Prof. Amfo expressed gratitude to the executives of both associations (FILLM and WALS) and the Local Organising Committee, led by Prof. Jemima Anderson, for hosting the Conference at the University of Ghana. She thanked the successive Deans of the School of Languages for their ongoing support.
The Provost for the College of Humanities, Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, offered a concise overview of the College and its various Schools. He expressed hope that the Congress would serve as a platform for knowledge exchange among local and international experts in the field of modern languages. "It is my hope that this Congress will serve as a platform for exchanging knowledge as well as forming lasting networks," he said.
Provost for the College of Humanities, Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori
Dean of the School of Languages, Prof. Josephine Dzahene-Quarshie, conveyed her excitement at hosting the Congress and highlighted the School's commitment to academic excellence and the development of globally relevant students. She described the School of Languages as a place that nurtures academic potential and fosters cultural competence.
In brief remarks, the President of the West African Linguistic Society (WALS), Prof. Lendzome Constantine Yuka, expressed gratitude to the University of Ghana for the warm reception and wished everyone productive deliberations during the four-day Congress.
President of the International Federation of Modern Languages and Literatures (FILLM), Prof. Adams Bodomo, for his part, thanked WALS and the Local Organising Committee for their role in bringing the Congress to Ghana for the first time. He extended his best wishes for fruitful discussions during the Congress.
President of the International Federation of Modern Languages and Literatures (FILLM), Prof. Adams Bodomo
During the opening ceremony, Prof. Firmin Ahoua, a professor of Linguistics, delivered a keynote address on the theme, "Towards Evaluating Impacts of Humanities on Improving People's Lives in West Africa." He discussed the significance of updating languages in line with computing technologies to stay abreast of global trends. Professor Ahoua also proposed the establishment of technological laboratories on the University of Ghana Campus to create language-technological applications that contribute to global development.
As part of the opening ceremony, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo and other participants of the Congress were presented with plaques in recognition of their contributions to the field of languages.
The opening ceremony was enriched by poetry recitations in Swahili by students from the School of Languages.
The event signifies a pivotal moment for linguistic and modern language experts worldwide, as the joint Congress offered an opportunity to exchange knowledge, strengthen collaborations, and address critical issues in the field.
