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Regional News of Thursday, 29 August 2024

Source: Stephen Darko, Contributor

Advocate calls for stronger emphasis on education literacy

Daniel Owusu-Koranteng (left) presenting the books to a member of the Logos Hope Daniel Owusu-Koranteng (left) presenting the books to a member of the Logos Hope

Mining activist and writer, Mr. Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, has donated forty books to the Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating library.

This generous contribution supports the organization's efforts to promote reading culture, particularly among youth globally.

On August 27, 2024, Owusu-Koranteng donated twenty copies of each of his award-winning books, "Paying My Debt", an autobiography, and "The Wanderer's Poems," an anthology of twenty-five poems.

Viguier Christina Anne Grace, the Assistant Book Fair Manager of Logos Hope, received the books on behalf of the organization and expressed gratitude for the kind gesture.

In an interview, Owusu-Koranteng emphasized the immense benefits of reading culture, especially for youth.

He further explained that reading provides access to extensive knowledge, equips individuals to navigate life's challenges, and prevents people from falling into harmful habits like smoking, drug addiction, and alcoholism.

He stressed that avid readers develop values such as honesty, integrity, humility, hard work, and emotional intelligence, preparing them to become authentic leaders.

According to Owusu-Koranteng, reading habits are crucial for shaping the next generation of leaders and fostering wisdom and love for one's nation.

He shared his personal experience of developing a reading habit early in life, influenced by his late father and elementary school library.

This foundation, he said led him to become a regular user of the public library in Nkawkaw.

Inspired by Logos Hope's floating library concept, Owusu-Koranteng donated his books as a symbolic gesture of support.

He admired the organization's commitment to promoting reading culture globally and appealed to the Ghanaian government to invest more in institutions like the Ghana Library Board and the Ghana Book Development Council.

Owusu-Koranteng recommended establishing more libraries in communities and schools, including mobile libraries to reach people in deprived areas.

He emphasized the importance of investing in these initiatives to promote reading culture and human capital development.

The donated books have received prestigious awards.

"Paying My Debt" won the Creative Non-Fiction (Kofi Awoonor) Category in the 5th Literary Awards of the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) in 2021, while "The Wanderer's Poems" won the Readers Choice Best Poet Award for 2024, sponsored by the Africa Must Read Foundation.

Owusu-Koranteng has a history of supporting reading culture, having previously donated books to the Ghana Library Board.