Tamale Regional Book Fair commences amid celebration of literacy and culture

The northern city of Tamale became a vibrant hub of literary celebration on Wednesday, 23rd April 2025, as the Regional Book Fair was formally opened, coinciding with the global observance of World Book and Copyright Day and the launch of the 22nd edition of the Ghana International Book Fair.

The event, which took place at the Tamale College of Education, brought together a wide range of participants, including writers, publishers, educators, students, and cultural, religious, and other stakeholders. 

The Ghana International Book Fair Secretariat, organisers of this event , which for the first time is being hosted in the northern part of the country, aims to decentralise access to books and promote a reading culture across all regions. Organised under the theme “Read Your Way – Celebrating Accessible Literature,”  the fair highlights the transformative power of books in bridging literacy gaps and fostering national unity. 

Speaking at the opening of the book fair, Hon. Alhassan Suhuyini, Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency and Special Guest of Honour, praised the decision to host the book fair in the region and emphasised the vital role inclusive publishing plays in reducing inequality and fostering opportunity.

“Inclusive publishing dismantles barriers, ensuring that no one is left out of the transformative power of literature. It will ensure the creation of content that is born accessible…. It is about designing literature from the start in multiple formats,” he said.

On behalf of the Ghana Publishers Association (GPA), Kwabena Agyapong, member of the GPA Executive Council, emphasised the need to read for pleasure and the exploration of different genres aside from textbooks to improve lifelong learning.

“There is a need as a country to drum home the importance of reading for pleasure as well as exploratory reading. We need to have the country move from the overwhelming emphasis on textbooks. Indeed, a lot of our history and culture is being lost because they are not being stored in books,” he noted.

In commemoration of  World Book and Copyright Day at the event,  Proper Kwasi Nyavor, Head of the Education Section, UNESCO Ghana, addressed the gathering in a speech by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO. Her speech reflected on the enduring power of books in human development:

“The world cannot thrive without books; line by line, page by page, they nourish our thoughts, help us to explore new possibilities, and foster the creativity needed to address the complex challenges facing humanity.”

It also highlighted the role of the book and publishing industry in sustainable development across the African continent.

“Lastly, recognising that the book and publishing industry is a key driver of sustainable development, UNESCO is currently monitoring the sector’s expansion across Africa.” “The resulting report, to be released this year, will analyse publishing trends, challenges, and opportunities for growth across the 54 African member states, aiming to bolster the sector’s contribution to economic and social progress.”

The regional book fair will happen for four days with other organised activities, including reading and debate competitions and creative writing workshops for children. The organisers hope that the event will serve as a catalyst for increased reading among young people and generate deeper conversations on creating accessible literature for all.

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