The Bible society of Ghana have inaugurated a 13 member committee in the Upper East Regional capital, Bolgatanga to oversee the launching of a transcribed Gurene version of the New Testament.
Headed by Rev Simon Asige of the World Light Temple, the committee is said to have been tasked with multiple duties ahead of the launching of the local dialect version of the Holy book.
Other members of the pastoral-committee are: Pastor Thomas Tindan of the Deeper Life Church, Rev Dr. William Nsoh of the Redeem Church of God, Mr. Awuni Lawrence of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Rev. Comos Kabaga of the Methodist Church, Evangelist Abeto Daniel of the Action City Chapel, Pastor Michael Osei Poku of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The rest are; Rev. Baba Adongo of the Baptist Church , Rev Lazarus Akabore of the Assemblies of God, Bishop Dennis Tong of the Anglican Church, Pastor Richard Adongo of the Fountain Gate Chapel, Rev. Awuni of the Presbyterian Church and Area Apostle of the Church of Pentecost.
A Senior Programs officer of the Bible Society of Ghana, Rev Charles Adu Twumasi disclosed that most churches in the Upper East Region had complained that the current Gurune version of the Holy Bible which was compiled by GILBT ( Ghana Institute Of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation) years ago poses comprehension deficit to other Frafras outside the zuarungu settlement, hence the call for a newer version that can be comprehended by all frafras.
“For some years now we have had some indication back in 2013 and 2014 that the current Gurune Bible that was in the system was more of the Zuarungu Gurune and so the churches then consulted the Bible Society, that if we could put up a Bible for the central Gurune Language which will be understood by all Gurune speaking people. so we have to do some social linguistics survey back in 2013 to evaluate the concern of the churches, and indeed when we did the research we noticed that the current Scripture that was done by our sister organization GILBT was more of the Zuarungu Gurune and there was the need to have to a Gurune which was bilingual to everyone”.
He added that an audio version of the transcribed Holy book will be made available to assist the visually impaired among others.
Rev Simon Asige noted that having the Holy Book transcribed into the local tongue will boost the spiritual moral of the locals and as such help local pastors relative to the understanding of the Gurune Bible.
Having spent five years composing the local dialect version of the New Testament , the Bible Society is set to have it unveiled on the 14th of November, 2021.
Gaspard Ayuureneeya/ www.mywordfmonline.com