Kasem is a Central Gur language belonging to the Northern Grusi group, the only representative of this group to be found in Ghana.
Full classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, North, Gur, Central, Southern, Grusi, Northern.
The language homeland is in the Kassena-Nankani district and the recently-established Paga district in the Upper East Region, and across the northern Ghana border in Burkina Faso. The main towns are Navrongo, Paga and Chiana in Ghana; Pô, Tiébélé, and Guiaro in Burkina Faso.
Total population is approximately 250,000, evenly divided between the two countries. The international boundary follows the 11° N parallel of latitude.
With the exception of Firi, spoken west of the Sisili river, there is general inter-comprehension across the language area in spite of some dialect variations.
SIL Ethnologue entry for Kasem
