<<Print>>

Dr Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, says books are crucial for the socio-economic development of the country.

He said books held the key to reading and literacy and that good books enhanced the appreciation of one's literary environment while poor books lowered one's sight in the literary world.

This was said on behalf of the Minister at the celebration of the World Book and Copyright Day on the theme, “Solidifying the Book Industry and Reading for National Development.”

Mr Benjamin Kwasi Gyasi, Chief Director, Ministry of Education, reading the speech on behalf of the sector Minister, said reading was usually challenged when the book industry was not solidified.

He said, “any developed country is characterized by literacy.

One of the contributing factors of taking education in Ghana to greater heights was helping to build a robust book industry and a well-structured reading system where students at all levels would not only read textbooks but have supplementary readers to enhance their functional literacy."

Dr Adutwum urged all stakeholders to work with his ministry to support the Ghana Book Industry Agency bill through engagements for its enactment by Parliament.

He added that the bill once passed, would provide a more definite mandate to the agency to operate as a full-fledged agency in the book industry.

Dr Adutwum stated that stakeholders should assist his outfit in developing a national book and reading policy to regulate the development, assessment, production and distribution of books in Ghana, adding that, the Ghana Book Development Council (GBDC) was in the process of initiating such discussions.

Dr Adutwum said the ministry through GBDC intended to engage stakeholders to discuss comprehensively how to strengthen the book industry, develop book policies and formulate a sustainable reading system and culture.