Accra, Nov. 8, GNA - Efo Kodjo Mawugbe, Acting Executive Director of the National Theatre, said on Sunday that a healthy culture of reading and writing plays an important role in accelerating the development of the private sector.

"The private sector, being the engine of growth of Ghana's economy, could only be fuelled by a good culture of reading and writing," he said. Efo Mawugbe made the observation when he chaired the induction ceremony of the newly elected executives of the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) in Accra. The executives would serve a one-year term in office.

He explained that certain factors had contributed to the lack of a reading culture among the youth, such as lack of libraries and overdependence on technology, stressing that "computers cannot replace textbooks".

Efo Mawugbe urged parents to buy books for their children to read and also develop the habit of reading to their children, saying this would help to inculcate in them the culture of reading and writing. He called on the newly inducted executives to work hard to ensure that reading and writing were mainstreamed into the curricula of schools. Efo Mawugbe also called for the establishment of creative clubs in schools to encourage children to develop their talents. He urged them to ensure that textbook writers who were not members of the Association became members for a better bargaining power with government. Mr Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, President of GAW, commended the outgoing executives for their immense contributions to the running of the Association.

He said the Association was faced with challenges including dwindling membership, financial problems and a decline in public profile and influence. He added that the new executives would put in place structures to start rebuilding the Association with help from their predecessors.

".We are working with them to learn lessons and build on their work where we can, but we will not hesitate to change course if the lessons learnt dictate that we do so," Mr Gyan-Appenteng said. He said GAW would fight for public libraries to be opened and sustained by government and persuade private businesses, churches and civic groups to build libraries as part of their corporate social responsibilities. Mr Gyan-Apenteng also pledged that GAW would support writers, potential writers and children who showed an aptitude for writing, adding that the Association would become "the home for the creative and imaginative spirit". The other members of the new executive are Mr Ben M. Imoro, Vice President, Dr. Camynta Baezie, General Secretary, Mr Anthony Obeng Afrane, Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Gheysika Agambila, Treasurer and Mr Henry Assampong, Organizing Secretary. The rest are Mr Desmond Ali Gasanga, Assistant Organizing Secretary, Mr Kwaala Dove, Executive Member, Mrs Ayo Ayoola-Amale, Legal Adviser and Mrs Demay Alabi, Public Relations Adviser. 08 Nov. 10