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20th Ghana International Book Fair: Asamoah Gyan and other icon-authors to read & sign books
The 20th edition of the annual Ghana International Book Fair is set to take off from August 10-13, 2023 at the Accra International Conference 9:00am to 6:00 pm daily.
This year’s coincides with Accra World Book Capital and for that reason it comes with colourful additions to its original activities.
Among the many interesting activities designed to excite participants is a ‘Read & Converse’ session with the legendary Asamoah Gyan.
Asamoah Gyan is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the former captain of the Ghana national team , Black Stars and by far, is the African player with most goals at the World Cup.
Last year, he stoke the Ghanaian literary flame with the launch of his autobiography ‘Legyandary’ the book of focus for his session dubbed “Celebrity-Author & Readers Connect with Asamoah Gyan” scheduled for Saturday, 12 August, 2023 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the fair.
The session which promises to be thrilling and informing is by the Ghana Association of Writers in partnership with the Ghana International Book Fair secretariat.
Other sessions with icons who in recent times have caused effective ripples in the world of books include:
“Deep Conversations with Oheneyere Gifty Anti”. Gifty Anti, the legendary Ghanaian journalist and broadcaster will be the first to take her turn at the fair on Thursday, 10 August, 2023 from 4:00pm to 6:00 pm, with a conversation after reading excerpts from her books “When Strong Women Cry” and “The Black Chale Wote-Diary of the late Bloomer and her Daughter”;
A Book Signing session with one of the authors of the moment, Yvonne Nelson will be next on Saturday, August 12, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. This session will be the next big one after the Ghana International Book Fair Personality of the Year 2023 on Friday evening which will be to honour and celebrate HE Mr Abdourahamanne Diallo, the Country Representative of UNESCO Ghana for his tremendous support for the promotion of creative, cultural and literary landscape in Ghana.
The legendary Adjetey Annang will close the fair on Sunday , August 13, 2023 also with a session dubbed “Celebrity-Author & Readers Connect with Adjetey Annang”, where like in the case of Asamoah Gyan, participants will interact with the author after reading sessions and then after be followed with book signing moment.
The Ghana International Book Fair is organised annually to celebrate the rich Ghanaian culture through books and reading. The Book Fair focuses on the promotion of reading and literacy at all levels for human and national development.
Other activities to be seen at the Book Fair include Reading with Champions (as Clemento Suarez (renowned young Ghanaian comedian), Naa Dedei Botchwey (Ghana Most Beautiful Queen 2020), Kate Addo (Director of the Public Affairs of the Parliament of Ghana), Ruby Goka (Dentist and international award winning author) and others); writing & publishing workshops; Inter-schools debate competition; Hi-Schools Poetry Contest; Read to Play (video games) and exhibition and sales of books.
The Fair begins on Thursday, 10th August, 2023 with an Opening Ceremony at 9:00 am at the venue for the 4-days event, Accra International Conference Centre and closes on Sunday, 13 August. For each day sessions commence at 9:00 am and close at 6:00 pm. The theme for this year’s edition is ““Reading to connect minds for social transformation”. As always participation is free.
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Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
