The Ghana Book Publishers' Association (GBPA) has inaugurated its Northern Branch Office at the Department of Publishing Studies, KNUST. The inauguration was a follow-up to the Department's admission into the Association seven (7) years ago.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. K.K. Adarkwa, expressed the University's keenness to host the Northern Sector Office of the Ghana Book Publishers' Association. He added that, the newly inaugurated office would facilitate the activities between the Department and the Association, thereby alleviating the drudgery of migrating to Accra.
Prof. Adarkwa commended the Department of Publishing Studies for its role in training professionals for the industry. He urged the Department to continue with its good works. He further expressed his support for the Department's collaboration with Heidelberg, the Akerhus University, Norway and several printing and publishing houses across country.
The Provost of the College of Art and Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Dr. Daniel Buor, in his keynote address disclosed that the storing of information in the arts, sciences and technology contributed to the progress of human societies. He therefore, reiterated the importance of books in human activities for communicating information and ideas. Prof. Buor advised students to inculcate the habit of reading and not just to read in order to pass their examinations, stressing that, students have more access to literary materials such as magazines, pamphlets, textbooks, among others.
In a statement of caution contained in his speech, Prof. Buor, stressed the need for publishers to be selective in contents meant for publication. He indicated that: "Some books are lies from end to end." He also advised publishers to ensure that their publications are related to our cultural and environmental experience so as to fulfill sustainable development.
Touching on the Executive body of the Ghana Book Publishers' Association, Prof. Buor, challenged them to be proactive and innovative in the discharge of their respective duties. He also recommended the introduction of a Newsletter to the Association.
In a related development, a Symposium was held at the Engineering Guest House to commemorate "World Literacy Day". Addressing the Conference on the theme: "Child Literacy, the Foundation for Future Development", the President of Ghana Book Publishers' Association, Mr. Asare Konadu Yamoah, disclosed that the utmost objective of the Symposium is to bring to the fore the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and nations.
Mr. Yamoah added that child literacy should be considered as a national and international agenda for national development. He emphatically stated that "Literacy enables one to transform his or her state through the knowledge gained." Meanwhile, illiteracy tends to render women marginalized. Consequently, it's against this background that this year's Symposium hints on the importance of literacy in empowering women. "When women are literate, it is society that gains", he admitted.
