The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) and the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) has collaborated with Parliament to hold a reading session for school pupils as part of the “Parliament Reads 2020” program.
The program, held under the theme, “Inspiring the Next Generation Leaders to be Readers,” took place at the forecourt of Speaker’s Block on Wednesday.
The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, who was present at the event said knowledge has become a major driver of today’s world hence the need for young people to commit to reading.
“In this world of ICT, everything is regulated by knowledge; therefore, reading forms a very essential part of your growth,” he said, urging the students not to use television as a substitute for books
The Speaker also read various passages to the pupils to demonstrate his commitment to reading.
Some members of Parliament who were also at the event partook in the reading sessions to encourage the students to develop for reading.
Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze, Member of Parliament of Central Tongu Constituency advised the pupils to take reading seriously if they want to be prominent citizens in future.
“Knowledge is like a Baobab tree, very huge, hence you need to read a lot in order to acquire knowledge. I would not have become a Member of Parliament if I had not taken my reading seriously,” he said.
The North Tongu legislator, Samuel OkudzetoAblakwa encouraged the Upper Primary pupils to adopt a reading culture after having interacted and read aloud to the pupils.
Other dignitaries who were present include Kwaku Agyeman-Manu – Minister of Health, Cynthia Mamle Morrison –Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Peter Nortsu-Kotoe –Ranking Member of Education Select Committee.
The pupils aside getting the opportunity to interact with Members of Parliament present, also had access to the Ghana Library Authority’s Mobile Library Van where there could select books of their choice to read.
The pupils and staff were later given the opportunity to observe Parliamentary proceedings from the public gallery of the Chamber before being led by the Parliamentary Librarians to tour the library at the legislative house.
This event, which was the maiden edition, has been instituted as an annual event, to bring students in close contacts with MPs. The event falls under the united objective of both GNACOPS and GhLA, to inculcate the habit of reading in Ghanaians, especially children.