By
Stephen Appiah/Jennifer Ansu, GNA
Accra, Sept. 13, GNA – The Ghana Library
Authority (GLA) has joined the global community to mark the 2018 International
Literacy Day with a stakeholder engagement with pupils of some selected schools
within the Greater Accra metropolis.
Mr Sampson Osenda, GLA Head of Programmes and
Partnership said since 1967, the International Literacy Day celebrations had
taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of
literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.
He said the day seeks to advance the literacy
agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society.
Mr Osenda said Ghana’s commemoration of the
day is on the general theme “Literacy and Skills Development”.
He said the celebration offers GLA the opportunity
to explore ways to make effective connections between literacy and technical
and vocational skills in policies, practice, systems and governance.
Focusing on youth and adults within the
lifelong learning framework, the effective linkages between literacy and skills
will be explored, he said.
He said the renewed focus on integrated
approaches is grounded, on the one hand, in persistent literacy and skills
challenges, and, on the other, in the new skills demands and impetus generated
by the current context of globalization, digitization and the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.
Mrs Demay Alabi, the Chief Executive Officer
for 360 Degrees Foundation and the Chairperson for the occasion urged children
to develop interest in reading as it forms the basis for professional skills
development.
She encouraged the youth to focus on their
dreams and pursue to achieve it.
Mrs Ernestina Appiah, the Founder of Ghana
Coding Club said information communication and technology had become an
integral part for professional development since the world had become a global
village.
“Ghanaian youth therefore have no other option
than to equip themselves academically through knowledge acquisition to narrow
the development gap,” she said.
Mrs Grace Dsani, from Access Bank Foundation
advised the children to develop the habit of saving, saying that, some banks
had made room for youth banking, tagged as “Early Savers’ Account”.
The stakeholders at the programme included;
Access Bank Foundation, United Nations’ International Children’s Emergency Fund
(UNICEF), Bishop Girls’ Basic School, Osu St Peter’s Basic School, Tenashie
Basic School and Kotoka Basic Schools.
Some of the activities that marked the
occasion were group reading sessions and coding skill building session.
The International Literacy Day, now forms part
of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals programme adopted in 2015, which
highlights the changes and improvements being made worldwide in literacy
development.
The UNESCO has been central to improving
global literacy since 1946 and promotes International Literacy day in
partnership with governments, charities, local communities and experts in the
field worldwide.
Using themes and programmes, the Day aims to
turn attention on literacy in all its forms in a changing world, recognising
literacy encompasses more than the written word in societies today.
GNA