On broader page we will all agree with that a society ceases to exist as a holistic cultural entity when her languages run into extinction. It is therefore against that background that we, as a people, have a collective responsibility to protect our languages for our cultural survival.
To add, we cannot deny the fact that in terms of language, Ghana is as a result of the respective local dialects spoken across the breadth and length of the country.
So, as a campaign to promote the existence of Ghana (from a language perspective), the Bureau of Ghana Languages has instituted an annual reading festival, “Ghana Reading Festival” which is dedicated towards creating an avenue to promote literary works written in Ghanaian languages.
Every first Wednesday of October is World Reading Day. However, since the Bureau of Ghana Languages has chosen to promote readings of only Mother languages of Ghana, there’s an adopted version of commemorating National Reading in Mother Languages every first Saturday of October and in the form of a festival.
The festival will comprise activities as “‘Read In Your Mother Tongue’ Workshops”, “Reading Carnival”, “Conversations with Authors” (who have works in Ghanaian languages), dramatic reading by trained individuals and with a special feature by Oswald & the Play House Folks, Pick, Read & Win, host Mother Tongue Poetry Reading Session and create a platform for Exhibition & Sales of Books written in Ghanaian Mother Languages at the venue, Pan African Writers Association House, at Roman-Ridge, Accra.
Ghana Reading Festival will also honour some personalities like Dr. Osei Kwame Despite (CEO of Despite Group of Companies), Ataa Oko Dgagadu, (formerly of Obonu FM) for their respective roles in making Akan & Ga languages prominent on airwaves, and some authors of the Bureau of Ghana Languages who have written books that are widely used in the Ghanaian Education Circles.
The festival (maiden edition) designed to be a family one will have the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture—Dr. Iddi Ziblim—as Special Guest of Honour, Mayor of Accra—Hon. Mohammed Adjei Sowah—as Chairperson and Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng—President, Ghana Association of Writers & Chairman, National Media Commission—as Keynote Speaker.
And they together with other invited literary & societal icons as Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo, Prof. Lade Wosornu, Dr. Mawuli Adjei, Kofi Akpabli, Hon. Rashid Pelpuo as well as persons in reputable professions like Rebekah Awuah(GTV/GBC 24),, Prince Yawson (a.k.a Waakye), Nana Adwoa Adobea Asante (A.g Dir., National Folklore Board) and Blakk Rasta (Zylofon Fm).
Others are Gladys Osei Owiredu (Joy Prime Tv/Multi-media), Abdul Hayi-Moomen (GTV/GBC 24), Justice Appiah (Pan African Tv) Dr. George Mante (Medical Doctor) and others will read in their respective mother languages.
We shall also be entertained with performances by Nii Muzik (Palm wine music musician), Nnene Narh (Soul Music Musician), Achievers Ghana among others. RSVP: +233 244 174 908/ +233 571 174 908.
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Source: Oswald Okaite