Samira Bawumia lauds Kanéval for igniting passion for reading among children

This initiative, inspired by the Ga word ‘Kanemɔ’, meaning 'read', and the English word ‘Carnival’, has been instrumental in driving a love for reading in basic schools.

Kanéval, which was part of UNESCO’s Accra World Book Capital 2023 programme, was a year-long campaign aimed at fostering a habit of reading for fun among children across the country. One of its key strategies was the establishment of digital libraries in both public and private basic schools, ensuring that reading materials were readily available and accessible.

In a speech read on her behalf at the closing ceremony of UNESCO’s Accra World Book Capital, 2023, Samira Bawumia praised Kanéval for its transformative impact on young minds, turning them into avid readers and enthusiasts.

She highlighted the significance of initiatives like Kanéval in nurturing a generation of well-read and informed citizens, essential for the socio-economic development of the nation.

“Initiatives like the Kanéval campaign by Perbi Cubs, Know Your Mother Tongues organised at the Makola Market, and the Zongo Read Project at Maamobi Community Gale Library foster a love for reading within the community. The international literacy celebration in Kumasi brought people together to highlight the importance of reading and writing,” she indicated.

Samira Bawumia further assured that the government, in collaboration with the private sector, will continue to explore the creation of a reading and creative writing facility in Accra to foster a culture of reading and writing while promoting socio-economic growth and addressing unemployment in vulnerable communities in Greater Accra and beyond.

As Accra’s tenure as the world book capital draws to a close, there is optimism that the momentum created by initiatives like Kanéval will continue to inspire a culture of reading and learning across Ghana. Once ignited, the flame of literacy has the power to illuminate minds and transform societies for generations to come.