Accra, the capital of Ghana, officially assumed the title of UNESCO’s 2023 World Book Capital from Guadalajara, Mexico on Monday, as declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

“Books and reading are essential to us all, as a source of information, questions and emotions, to get us close with the world,”

During the launch of the 2023 World Book Capital ceremony, Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay were in attendance. Azoulay expressed that the decision to select Accra as the 2023 World Book Capital serves as a reminder to encourage reading for everyone and eliminate any obstacles to reading throughout Africa.

At the event, Akufo-Addo also read some books to a group of school children.

Akufo-Addo said: “The World Book Capital is more than a reading campaign.

It is an opportunity for the government and international partners to leverage these diverse linkages, to culture and education to deepen our collective actions to make progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.”

“It is also a catalyst for investment in Ghana’s creative and cultural sector that will enable this growing sector to provide more decent jobs for our young people,” the president added. (Xinhua/NAN)