Mr Isaac Kofi Appiah, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Publishing Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), has documented the history of the University’s Publishing Studies programme in a new book tracing the career paths of its graduates from 1987 to 2023.
Titled The Book Industry Programme: From Print to Reality and Beyond, the book was launched alongside English, French and Twi editions of his children’s book, Little Kwame's Big Mystery.
Mr Appiah said his motivation for documenting the programme’s development was to preserve its institutional history and help students and prospective applicants understand the career opportunities available to graduates.
He said his research examined graduates’ professional experiences and highlighted their contributions across different sectors of the economy.
Mr Appiah thanked the University, colleagues, former students, editors, designers and research assistants who supported the publications. He described his former students and collaborators as the unsung contributors behind his publishing achievements.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christian Agyare, who launched the four publications, commended Mr Appiah for his contributions to scholarship, creativity, historical documentation and literacy development.
He said The Book Industry Programme: From Print to Reality and Beyond provided an important institutional record, preserving the experiences, achievements and contributions of generations of graduates.
Professor Agyare also praised the author’s efforts to promote children’s literacy through multilingual publications, saying access to stories in different languages could help children connect with reading materials and develop an interest in reading.
He encouraged academics, researchers, students and professionals to document their experiences, knowledge and discoveries.
"We should not only consume knowledge, but we should also create, preserve and share it. Our stories, histories, innovations and experiences deserve to be documented for present and future generations," he said.
The Provost of the College of Art and Built Environment, Professor Christian Koranteng, described the publications as valuable contributions to knowledge and literacy.
He likened good books to lamps that light a path, providing readers with the knowledge and guidance needed to take their next steps.
Professor Koranteng said the book on the Publishing Studies programme was particularly significant for strengthening links between academia and industry. He said it offered insights into graduates’ career paths and the programme’s contribution to the publishing industry.
Commenting on Little Kwame's Big Mystery, he stressed the importance of giving young readers stories in languages they could understand and relate to. Publishing in indigenous languages, he added, affirmed their value in education and literacy development.
Story: Eunice Asare
