The Kanéval initiative by Perbi Cubs has received high praise from the wife of the Vice President of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, for its dedication to promoting a culture of reading among students.
The initiative, a fusion of the Ga word ‘Kanemɔ’ and the English word ‘Carnival’, has been instrumental in instilling a love for reading in basic schools.
Under UNESCO’s Accra World Book Capital 2023 program, Kanéval aimed to cultivate a habit of reading for pleasure among children nationwide. One of its key strategies involved setting up digital libraries in both public and private basic schools to ensure easy access to reading materials.
At the closing ceremony of UNESCO’s Accra World Book Capital, Samira Bawumia commended Kanéval for its transformative impact on young minds, moulding them into passionate readers and enthusiasts.
She emphasized the importance of initiatives like Kanéval in shaping a well-read and informed citizenry crucial for the country’s socio-economic progress.
Furthermore, Samira Bawumia lauded other literacy initiatives like Know Your Mother Tongues, the Zongo Read Project, and international literacy celebrations for their contribution to fostering a reading culture within communities.
She highlighted the distribution of over 10,000 books through projects like Books-to-Go and African Story Box, citing their role in increasing access to stories and igniting a passion for reading.
The government, in partnership with the private sector, is exploring the establishment of a reading and creative writing facility in Accra to promote a culture of reading, spur socio-economic growth, and tackle unemployment in vulnerable communities in the Greater Accra region and beyond.
The Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth Naa Sackey, expressed her support for literacy promotion, earmarking a 5-acre land at Mamprobi Sempe for the construction of the Accra World Book Capital legacy project, aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for all.
The Chief Director at the Education Ministry, Mamle Andrews, acknowledged the strides made in fostering a reading nation, citing the distribution of reading materials to schools and communities in 12 municipalities across Accra, Central, and Ashanti regions as a testament to the government’s commitment towards enhancing literacy nationwide.
UNESCO hailed Ghana for laying a strong foundation for literacy and reaching out to marginalized groups such as women, street children, and persons with disabilities. The organization stressed the importance of inclusivity in literacy initiatives to ensure equal access to education and knowledge for all.
As Accra’s tenure as the world book capital concludes, there is optimism that initiatives like Kanéval will continue inspiring a culture of reading and learning across Ghana. The flame of literacy, once ignited, has the power to illuminate minds and transform societies for generations to come.
