Mr Yamoah said this Accra at the opening ceremony of this year’s 22nd Ghana International Book Fair.

The four-day fair was on the theme: “Inclusive Publishing” Celebrating Accessible Literature”.

Mr Yamoah said the Fair, since its inception in 1996, had represented the literary phase of the country, positioning itself as the choice in the sub-Saharan African region.

“The Fair has distinguished itself as the hub for the promotion of literacy in Ghana, organising free literary events for students at all levels and capacity building for industry professionals, among others,” he said.

Mr Yamoah called on the government to support the establishment of a permanent multipurpose exhibition centre for the creative arts and culture industry.

That,he stressed, could be done either by direct support or by promoting partnerships with the private sector.

He called for the incorporation of publication materials that were key to supporting those in the community with various learning challenges, like braille, large format, and audiobooks.
He stated that books for readers with visual and hearing impairments have historically been underfunded and under-represented, calling for urgent attention.

Mr Yamoah called for a dedicated budget, institutionalised with the national money, to support the development of infrastructure in the culture and creative arts, as was done in Algeria, Morocco and Egypt.

Professor Smile Dzisi, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service in charge of Management Services, underscored the importance of literature in preserving knowledge of the past.

She commended the organisers for shining light on inclusive publishing, ambition and a mindset that ensured that everyone, regardless of ability, background or identity, can access, enjoy and engage with the written word.
“Without literacy, history would have been forgotten, culture would have withered, and progress would have been impossible,” she said.

“The more we invest in books, in libraries, in authors, and in readers, the more we secure not only our cultural heritage but also our capacity for growth and transformation,” she said.

Dr Angela Affran, Inclusive Education Coordinator, Transforming Teacher, Education and Learning, urged parents to encourage their children to read at home, adding that the future of Ghana depended on the literacy of its people.

She called for capacity building of stakeholders in the sector to play its role effectively.