The Akan (Twi, Twi-Fante) language varieties belong to the Central subgroup of the Volta Camoe group, which fall within New Kwa branch of Niger-Congo. It is spoken primarily in southern Ghana but extends into northwestern Cote d'Ivoire. The Akan are in the south central, Ashanti province of Ghana. The Akuapem are in the southeast areas, north of Accra. The Fante are in the south central, between Winneba, Takoradi, and Obuasi.
WA (1995) lists seven million speakers or 44% of the total population of Ghana. 1.8 Asante; 4.3 Fante; 230,000 Akuapem Twi (UBS, 1993).
According to WA (1990) about 44% of the Ghanaian population are members of the Akan-speaking groups. An official literary language used for education through university, and in mother tongue authored literature. Roman alphabet is used. 30% to 60% of the speakers are literate. Two periodicals are published in Akan: Nkwantabisa and Akwansosem, while Akan radio broadcasts are also heard in Ghana.
Standardized writing and orthographic writing system exist for Asante, Akuapem, and Fante; a unified Akan writing system for these three language varieties is nearing completion (Bureau of Ghana Languages project).
One set of materials is sufficient.
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