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UNESCO Ghana participates in Ghana International Book Fair 2021
UNESCO Ghana graced the 4-day Ghana International Book Fair (GIBF) organized by the Ghana Publishers Association in Accra. The fair brought together book industry players, both local and international, such as publishers, editors, authors/writers, designers, illustrators, printers, librarians, booksellers, students, teachers and as well as some book lovers. The aim was to highlight innovations that have occurred in the publishing industry, to share ideas, foster strong links, explore business opportunities, and enhance the visibility and recognition of players in the book industry.
The opening ceremony was well attended by many industry players such as Mr James Appiah Berko, a member of the governing council of the Ghana Book Development Council (GBDC) and the President of the Ghana Paper Printers and Converters Association (GPPCA); Dr Wale Okediran, the Secretary-General of the Pan-African Association of Writers; Mr Abdourahamane Diallo, Representative of UNESCO to Ghana; Mr Francis Gbormittah, President of the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW); Mr Asare Konadu Yamoah, President of the Ghana Publishers Association and Chairperson of the Ghana Culture Forum and member of the GIBF Organising Committee, among other dignitaries.
During the ceremony, the Chairperson of the 18th GIBF, Mr Asare Konadu Yamoah explained that the purpose of the book fair was to create a platform in exchange of cultural ideas and cooperation between Ghanaian publishers and other publishers from other countries. He also expressed the many challenges the industry has faced since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic including whitling of the financial fortunes of the practitioners. However, he underscored many innovative interventions that have opened other business opportunities and created avenues for exploration.
As the theme of this year鈥檚 book fair indicates, we strive towards 鈥楪hana as A Nation of Readers for Development鈥, the Head of Office and Representative of UNESCO to Ghana, Mr Abdourahamane Diallo, who chaired the event stated that the inability to read with comprehension has been a major challenge for many school children in Ghana for many years now and indicated that an assessment conducted by the Ministry of Education recommended that parents read books aloud to children at home. 鈥UNESCO advocates for access to books to ensure that everyone can take refuge in reading, and by doing so, be able to dream, learn and reflect鈥, he added.
Some of the side events organized during the 4-day event were UNESCO鈥檚 session on the , a reading session on Saving the Environment, and the launch of the new edition of the collection of poems of renowned Professor Lade Wosornu translated into 15 Ghanaian languages.
The session on GHA opened up conversations on integration of the publications into curricula as supported by Ms Rebecca Abu Gariba, the Director for Curriculum and Assessment of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA). Ms Ama Serwah Nerquaye-Tetteh, Secretary-General of the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM) wants young people in Ghana to learn from Ghana鈥檚 history to propel them forward. The conversations included students from the North Legon Complex School and the Coming King Basic/JHS as they read sections of the publications.
The book reading session, Read to Save the Environment, focused on the book Cacophonia by Naomi Adjei. The session featured UNESCO, Ms Kate Addo, the head of Public Relations in the Parliament of Ghana, Dr Wale Okediran of PAWA, Hon Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, Esq, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
There was also the launch of the new edition of the collection of Inspirational Poems of renowned Professor Lade Wosornu translated into 15 Ghanaian languages (Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi, Mfantse, Nzema, Dangme, Eve, Ga, Gonja, Likpakpaani, Sisaali, Dagaare, Dagbani, Gurens, Kusaal). The Panel featured John Agbeko, the Chief Director of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC), UNESCO, William Boateng, the Director for the Bureau of Ghana Languages and Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng Apagyahene of Akyem Ati who is former Chair of the National Media Commission (NMC), former Chair Steering Committee PAWA and former President GAW. Discussions were on languages and culture policy.
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