Ghanaian youth have been advised to cultivate the habit of reading in order to nurture their intellect and become excellent human beings. That advice was stressed by all the major speakers at the maiden book festival organised by the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW), through the Western Regional Branch on July 1, 2016. That was the first GAW book festival held outside Accra. The programme stressed the need for the youth to cultivate the habit of reading, for creative as well as for academic purposes, because reading helps the mind to develop human potential.
The theme for the festival, nurturing young minds, nurturing the intellect, gave speakers opportunity to address the concept of reading from different perspectives. The simple message was that reading is a habit that must be cultivated, in an enabling environment. As such, various stakeholders must play their roles for children to develop the desire for reading. In her welcome address, the Western Regional Representative of GAW intimated that reading enabled an individual to develop all the human senses. She reasoned that if an individual read to nurture his/her potential, s/he would not be easily swayed by others. A person who is well-read develops the intellectual sophistication to make autonomous decision in life, always weighing issues, prepared for consequences.
The festival was chaired by Miss Sarah Araba Zentey, the Deputy Regional Director of Education, who represented the Regional Director, Mrs Enyonam Afi Amafuga. In a speech read by the Deputy Director, Mrs. Amafuga applauded GAW for guiding secondary school students to rediscover the culture of reading. Whilst acknowledging that reading lays the foundation for learning in a child’s life, she condemned the high illiteracy rate of Sub-Saharan Africa. The Director alluded to the grave consequences of illiteracy when she cited that “countries that have increased their literacy rate by 20-30 % have simultaneous increases of 8-10 % in Gross Domestic Product.
Mrs. Amafuga shared another research finding that reading textbooks boosted fluency by 9.6 words per minute, while reading at home boosted readers’ fluency by 8.3 words per minute. Amongst other benefits, she reminded the audience that reading helps to develop speech and communication skills of individuals; It exposes the reader to a wealth of knowledge which helps one to cultivate logical reasoning, critical perspectives, discipline of concentration, all of which qualities prepare learners for academic excellence, thus, GAW could not have chosen a better theme for the Festival. She hoped that the festival would not be a seven-day wonder, but that GAW would continue with such pro-reading activities.
The Guest-of-Honour, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sekondi Branch, Officer David Agyemang Adjem, reminded parents that they have the fundamental role in the intellectual development of a child. He lamented that many parents provide materially for their children but fail to provide for them intellectually. Parents must read to their children right from infancy, then guide them through the formative years by sowing in them the seeds of good reading habits. He also stressed that a person who reads well is not easily manipulated by others, because a reader develops the various human senses for sound judgment in life.
The Guest speaker, Nii Lantey Cleland, former Western Regional Director of Education, reiterated the role of parents in children’s reading interests. He also stressed the need for parents to create the right environment for children’s reading, but he further developed the theme from the educationist perspective. The speaker explained that nurturing means patiently, gently taking care of something in order to make it develop a strong foundation. The foundation for analytical reading, which characterises formal education, must be laid at the pre-school stage. He expressed disappointment that the nation has persistently neglected the pre-school, failing to place professional educators there to ensure that the necessary reading guidance is given to pre-schoolers. Once the mind was firmly nurtured, Nii harped, the individual would be intellectually autonomous.
Among the guests was Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, the Omanhene of Essikado, who also emphasised that an individual has a responsibility to cultivate a reading habit in order to develop an independent mind, a mind that cannot be controlled by others. He pointed out to the youth that the biggest weapon of any oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Nana Nketsiah bemoaned the mediocre creativity and intellectual practices that have besieged the country’s performing arts, because such stakeholders fail to read analytically for legitimate information which can propel them to excellence in performance. He added his voice to the other speakers’ and reprimanded the Western Region for poor patronage of literary and educative programmes. He commended the audience for patronising the book festival, reminding them that they represent an authentic future. Nana also reminded the youth especially to read the works of great African writers such as Ayi Kwei Armah and the late Chinua Achebe among others, since they provide insight to a legitimate African worldview.
The youth were reminded that they are living in trying times in which opportunistic ones constantly attempt to exploit the innocent. To foist such destructive attempts, they must develop their intellectual powers for discernment, so that they can differentiate between genuine and camouflaged help. If the youth read to develop empathy, and common sense and insight, unscrupulous adults could not use them to harm fellow human beings or destroy property. A well-read mind is a refined mind, and a refined mind protects and salvages resources, rather than destroy them.
All the speeches could be summed up thus: A reading habit does not happen by chance; it is a collective act. All the stakeholders must play their parts well. Parents must sow the seed by reading to and guiding their children’s reading. The school system must train and place qualified personnel appropriately, especially, at the foundation level. Individuals must cultivate the reading habit. If all stakeholders played their roles well, the youth could be impressed upon to appreciate reading.
The book festival was also an opportunity for GAW Western Region to honour Institutions and personalities who had been pivotal in the survival of the Association in the Region. Twin City Radio and the Centre for National Culture received GAW Recognition Award for promoting the activities of the Association in the Region. Five personalities were also awarded for their services to the Association. The personalities were Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Nii Lantey Cleland, former Western Regional Director, GES, Mr. Stephen Sedofu, Director, Centre for National Culture, Mr. Coffie Nyadi, former Regional Director of Twin City Radio and Mr. Kwame Malcolm, a news anchor, formerly of Twin City Radio but currently with radio 360. All were entreated to emulate the examples of the awardees by supporting GAW.
After the opening ceremony, all enjoyed reading books from the Ghana Library Mobile Van which featured a variety of reading materials for young and old. Various book houses as well as individual authors participated in the festival, providing opportunity for the audience to purchase books. Participating schools displayed admirable creative prowess. Takoradi Senior High gave a spirited drama performance, Baidoo Bonsu, Fiaseman, and Methodist Day treated the audience to good poetry recitals. GSTS thrilled all with excellent riddles. A karaoke session brought the curtain down on the book festival. It was a day well-spent dabbling in creative activities. The activities of the participating school gave proof that efforts to promote reading and writing have not been completely in vain.
Dinah Serwaa Amankwah
GAW Rep, Western Region
Lecturer, Communication Skills
Takoradi Polytechnic
