“I Want to Hear Pidgin in Parliament, to the Level of the People” – Blakk Rasta

Ghanaian musician and radio presenter, Blakk Rasta, has voiced his desire for Ghanaian parliamentarians to use Pidgin English as a means of communication during parliamentary sessions. According to Blakk Rasta, this move would make the proceedings in parliament more accessible and understandable to the general public.

In an interview on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z with Kwame Dadzie on Saturday, December 16, 2024, Blakk Rasta expressed his appreciation for the few parliamentarians, like A Plus and Baba Sadiq, who have used Pidgin in the legislature. He believes that increasing the use of Pidgin in parliament would bridge the communication gap, as the formal language often alienates many Ghanaians.

“I’m glad having people like A Plus who speak Pidgin in Parliament. I have heard him speak Pidgin. I have heard Baba Sadiq also speak Pidgin. I want to hear Pidgin in Parliament, to the level of the people. The big English is too much,” he said.

Blakk Rasta went on to explain that, instead of relying on the media to break down the complex issues raised in parliament, using Pidgin would make parliamentary debates more relatable and engaging to the public. He emphasized that simplifying communication would help the masses connect with the business of parliament and become more involved in national discussions.

“Radicalise the parliament house. Bring it to the level of the people. Encourage them to be part of the discussions. When they are discussing things in parliament, it is like bourgeoisies drinking tea. So we all stay back waiting for the news people to break it down for us to digest. I want to hear pidgin in parliament,” he added.

In addition to his thoughts on parliamentary language, Blakk Rasta also shared his plans to leave the country before the 2024 elections. He revealed that he had intended to relocate abroad if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) won the election, as he felt dissatisfied with the political and economic situation in Ghana.

“We’re just looking for change and change is here. I was so fed up. I told everybody that should these guys win the election again, I would be out of this country. A month before the election, I was out of the country. I was in Jamaica, I was in America and some other places just planning a very fluid exit should they win,” he said.

Blakk Rasta compared his feelings to that of Nigerian author Wole Soyinka, who had pledged to destroy his American passport if Donald Trump won the U.S. presidency, stating that he too would have followed through with his decision to leave Ghana.

The musician also criticized the NPP government, claiming that it had pushed Ghana into difficult times. He emphasized that the country needed a break from the current leadership.

“The NPP has plunged the country into very austere situations and Ghana needed a break from the government,” he concluded.