Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - The 6th International Book Fair dubbed; "Books - Fuel for National Development," opened in Accra on Tuesday with a call on publishers and writers to use the medium of creative writing to transform society.

"The Publisher needs to invest into manuscript research and development to enhance the quality of books, whilst writers need to inculcate creative cultural and traditional artistic works into their writings," Mr Kwame Ampofo Twumasi, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports stated at the fair.

The fair, organised by the Ghana International Book Fair Trust (GIBOFT) in collaboration with the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Ghana Book Development Council and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports seeks to create a platform to showcase the intellectual and cultural values of the Ghanaian publishing industry.

It also seeks to promote the book trade locally and internationally through the holding of workshops and training seminars during the forum to deliberate on issues affecting the publishing industry and create a window through which books would be celebrated on the African continent. Mr Twumasi challenged publishers, writers and other stakeholders in the book industry to take advantage of the national book policy to explore and develop it to support national educational programme. He said the success of the government's human resources development agenda depended on a sustainable educational enhancement programme, which would be based on a vibrant book industry.

Professor Atukwei Okai, Secretary General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), who chaired the ceremony in his characteristic poetic language tasked publishers to use the medium of creative writing to enlighten the Ghanaian and African society to appreciate their cultural values.

He said, the youth were bankrupt in their traditional values, norm and practices, and needed a vibrant book industry to change the trend. Dr. Kwaku Mensah Ganu, the Fair Director appealed to the Ministry to put into operation a feasibility study for the development of the pulp industry in Ghana, to reduce the cost of book production. "Books are quite expensive to produce - the paper, films, plates and ink, which are all imported attract high government tariffs, eventually increasing the overhead cost for publishing," he said.

The development of the pulp industry would therefore reduce the cost of production dramatically, which would affect the cost of books in the Ghanaian market.

On the poor reading culture, especially among the youth, Dr. Ganu suggested the publishing of fascinating titles to attract and revive the

reading culture in the country stressing, "the books you read determines your personality."

There is therefore a dire need for Ghanaians to cultivate the reading culture and devote a minute proportion of the already low income to purchasing books.

On display at an exhibition mounted by local and foreign publishers, writers and other stakeholders are a myriad of novels, poems, plays and novelettes written by Africans.

Other activities earmarked for the six-day fair include; Buyer and Sellers meeting, workshop on Negotiation Skills, the Dynamics of Electronic Marketing in the African Literary Market Place, a seminar on Book Development in Africa and School Children's reading competition.