Holy Quran Translated into Dagbani (Page 21)

Story: Lucy Adoma Yeboah
A DAGBANI version of the Holy Quran has been launched in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, by the Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Idriss Ali.
To reach a larger audience, another launching ceremony will be organised on Saturday, July 5, 2008 at the Teachers’ Hall in Accra.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra, the translator of the Quran from Arabic to Dagbani, Sheikh Muhammad Baba Gbetobu, said his effort was to offer Dagbani speakers the opportunity to read and understand the Holy Book in their own language without any difficulty.
He said he spent five years working on the project and expressed gratitude that he had finally been able to achieve his aim.
Sheikh Gbetobu who did the translation with a Certificate of Registration from the Copyright Office dated May 20, 2008, said it was difficult for him to raise enough funds at the initial stage, adding that his initial attempts yielded only GH¢630, out of GH¢11,500 that he needed for the work.
He expressed gratitude to the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who introduced him to the Saudi Arabian Embassy to assist him even though he received no assistance.
He also said further efforts in Kano, Nigeria also proved futile and again another at the Iranian Embassy yielded no results.
Sheikh Gbetobu said he eventually had support from a private printing house, Impressive Image Printing Press at Bompata in Kumasi, where the work was done.
He pointed out that within six months, the literature was out although few copies were made at first.
To come this far, Sheikh Gbetobu said he spent a total of GH¢12,600.
He hinted that he would organise another launch in Kumasi after the Accra one and requested all to attend the programme to make it successful.
He expressed gratitude to other translators with rich background in Islam who assisted him through their guidance and existing literature.

Caption: Shiekh Gbotobu (standing with microphone in hand) addressing participants at the launch of the Dagbani Quran in Tamale.