He noted that some teachers rather presented the language in a dull manner, which did not interest many students.

Mr. Gambila said the integration of the Africa continent had been slow and attributed this largely to language differences.

"In recent times I have played host to two large delegations from neighbouring Burkina Faso. There was overwhelming enthusiasm for co-operation in commercial, agriculture, environmental and security matters.

I personally experienced the frustration that language barriers could create between people who have so much in common and are so eager to collaborate."

Mr. Gambila expressed his concerns at the opening of the 47th Annual National Congress of Ghana Association of French Teachers (GAFT) at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

He asked participants at the congress to critically examine the constraints and challenges in the teaching of French, stressing that there was the need for French teachers to come out with decisions and suggestions that would command the attention of policy makers and other stakeholders in French education.

Mr. Gambila also entreated the participants of the congress to use the electronic and the print media to promote the study of French in the country.

This, he noted, would enhance development in the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS)..

The President of the Ghana Association of French Teachers, Mr. Joseph Saki-Venyor called on the government to be proactive in supporting the teaching and learning of French through its Presidential Special Initiative (PSI).

Mr. Saki-Venyor appealed to the government to strengthen and resource the teaching and learning of French in the country's universities.

He said a lot of Ghanaians could not acquire jobs in the international market simply because they could not speak the French language.

The President of GAFT noted that teachers were not sufficient in the system despite the three training colleges that train French teachers for basic schools.