Adwinsa Publications Limited has urged the government to prioritise the purchase of children’s books from local publishers and to consistently stock public libraries to help build a stronger reading culture among Ghanaian children.
Speaking at the Adwinsa Children’s Book and Arts Festival, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Library Authority to mark World Children’s Day, Kwaku Oppong-Amponsah, Chief Executive Officer of Adwinsa, said many children were eager to read but lacked access to books.
He said providing children with quality reading materials would help reduce excessive screen time.
“If parents will buy books for children, if governments will buy books for children, we should stock our libraries. When we give books to children, they will read,” he said.
Mr Oppong-Amponsah also underscored the growing role of digital technology, noting that Adwinsa had digitised many of its titles, including audiobooks. He encouraged local bookshops to expand into online sales, following the example of foreign retailers.
On challenges confronting the industry, he called for sustained government support, explaining that although Adwinsa produces storybooks in more than 11 Ghanaian languages, demand remains low.
Many parents and schools focus largely on English textbooks, he said, adding that a stronger market for locally produced storybooks would boost literacy and create jobs across the publishing sector.
Mr John Dumelo, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, encouraged children to cultivate a reading habit, urging them to read at least one book a month to build confidence and communication skills.
Mr Alhassan Betintiche Ziblim, Executive Director of the Ghana Library Authority, said a gap existed between the production of Ghanaian children’s books and their use for leisure reading.
He said the festival formed part of efforts to motivate children to embrace reading as an enjoyable daily activity.
He also announced ongoing reforms to the Ghana Library Authority Act, including plans for a national library, provincial memorial libraries, a library development fund, and the establishment of a regulated professional body for librarians.
World Children’s Day is observed worldwide on November 20 to commemorate the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In Ghana, the day is used to promote children’s rights, education, and welfare.
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