Wassa New Testament (WSSMFG)

Overview

The Wassa New Testament was produced by Manna Foundation Ghana, bringing the New Testament to speakers of this Central Tano language of southwestern Ghana. The JESUS Film has also been produced in Wassa, and Global Recordings Network materials are available. Audio New Testament content is accessible through Faith Comes By Hearing. No complete Bible has been reported for this language. The translation represents an important resource for a community whose language, while stable, had previously lacked a complete New Testament.

Language and People

Wassa (ISO 639-3: wss), also known as Wasa, Wasaw, Fianse, or Amenfi, is a Central Tano language of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family, closely related to Akan (Twi). It is spoken by approximately 273,000–375,000 people in southwestern Ghana, primarily in the Wasa Amenfi West, Wasa Amenfi East, and Wasa East districts of the Western Region. There are also some Wassa speakers in Ivory Coast. The Wassa people are historically known as miners and forest-dwelling farmers in the gold-bearing districts of the Western Region; they were an important force in the precolonial gold trade and later in colonial-era cocoa farming.

Publishing and Organizations

Published by Manna Foundation Ghana, a Christian organization based in the Western Region of Ghana engaged in Bible translation and Christian media work among Ghanaian language communities. Pastor Samuel K. Ntumy, a Bible Translation Consultant with over 33 years of experience who has worked with SIL and other organizations, is associated with the Western Region translation community that includes Wassa work.

References

• NT (Audio) - Audio Bible, Faith Comes By Hearing