Library Board launches reading programme (PAGE 22, JULY 10, 2010)

Story: Joe Okyere, Cape Coast

“IF you want to hide something from the African, put it in a book”, so goes the saying.
The saying is an apt attitude of the literate in a country where only a few read despite the importance of reading.
As part of measures to address this unfortunate situation, the Ghana Library Board has embarked on a programme to inculcate the habit of reading into the country’s youth on the eve of the International Children’s Book Day Celebration on the theme “A book is waiting for you, find it”.
The programme include book and photo exhibition on topical issues, readers clubs, story-telling, competitions (quiz, spelling Bee, reading and essay writing), mobile library service, among others.
At the celebration of the event in Cape Coast last Tuesday, the Central Regional Librarian, Ms Elizabeth Arthur added “and read” because it is not enough just finding it without reading it due to the importance of reading to the individual and the country at large.
Ms Arthur called for community involvement in the effective operation of libraries, especially children’s libraries and appealed for support from individuals, organisations, associations and assemblies for the provision of reading materials for children.
She also called on parents and teachers to encourage children to use the libraries and urged them to co-operate with the Ghana Library Board in ensuring that books borrowed by children are taken good care of and returned promptly.
St Monica’s Junior High School emerged tops in a quiz competition organised as part of activities for the occasion. They were followed by the University Junior High School, the Child Care international and the Mfantsipim Junior High School in that order.
In the basic schools level, Golden Treasure School took the first prize with William deGraft School second followed by Kakumdo Metropolitan Assembly School and Montessori and Philip Quarcoe in that order.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive,Mr Anthony Egyir Aikins,commended the participating schools and the Ghana Library Board for its mission to inculcate the habit of reading into children.