By Bright Ntramah
President Akufo-Addo says the Government will construct a Reading and Creative Writing facility to boost the culture of reading and creative writing to stimulate socio-economic transformation. The facility, which will be located in Accra, will further promote the acquisition of 21st Century skills to address rising unemployment in Vulnerable Communities, as well as reinvigorate businesses in the domestic Book Industry and revive the concept of libraries towards instilling the culture of reading.
President Akufo-Addo announced this when he launched the Accra World Book Capital 2023. He said the Accra World Book Capital will reignite the spirit of reading, which will help impact Ghana’s National goal of becoming a learning nation.
The City of Accra was selected by UNESCO as the 2023 World Book Capital following evaluation by the World Book Capital Advisory Committee.
Accra was selected ahead of other cities because its programmatic focus was on young people and their ability to contribute to the culture and wealth of Ghana through the power of reading. Accra, thus, became the fourth city in Africa to receive this title since 2001, making the vibrant city part of the prestigious World Book Capital Cities Network.
This is an acknowledgement of the giant strides Ghana and Africa are making to develop the book and creative arts industries. The concept of World Book Capital by UNESCO acknowledges the power of books and reading as cornerstones to a more inclusive, equitable, peaceful, and sustainable society.
Ghana’s Ambassador to France, Anna Bossman, who was Chairperson, said the choice of Ghana as the World Book Capital is an acknowledgement of the strides the country is making in the books and creative arts industry.
The Director General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, said UNESCO is working with the government to support authors and artists.
She said UNESCO will initiate a new project that will strengthen Intellectual property in order to protect Artistic freedom and remuneration.
President Akufo-Addo called on all stakeholders to come on board to support the Accra World Book Capital project for maximum impact.
At the end of the Accra World Book Capital celebrations, it is expected that the various projects will directly impact a minimum of one hundred thousand children through increased interest in reading and creativity among the youth, provision of reading materials to cover 200 schools and community libraries.
It will also equip ten thousand unemployed youth with creative skills and increase awareness of the creation of cultural heritage sites in Ghana.