News
Build reading culture from childhood —Experts
Experts in Africa’s book industry have stressed the need to build a strong reading culture from childhood if the continent is to develop a vibrant publishing sector.
This call was made during a panel discussion in Accra on the theme “The State of the Book and Publishing Industry in Africa”.
The panel featured Dr Martin Egblewogbe, Co-Founder of Writers Project-Ghana; Dr Mrs Lucy Ry-Kottoh, Head of the Department of Publishing Studies at KNUST; Dr Wale Okediran, Secretary General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA); and Mr Kwabena Agyapong, Chief Executive Officer of Education Logistics.
Mr Agyapong argued that developing a love for books must begin early in life. “When books are given to children early, they grow up loving to read,” he said.
He urged government to enact policies that would ensure books were available in schools and homes, stressing that this was key to nurturing future readers and sustaining the industry.
The panelists agreed that accessibility and inclusiveness were also critical.
Dr Mrs Ry-Kottoh said publishing should serve everyone, regardless of background or ability.
“Nobody should be left out because they cannot see, hear, or read in the usual way,” she noted, calling for wider use of audiobooks, braille, and other inclusive formats.
She added that technology was already helping to expand access. “Audiobooks now give opportunities to people who are blind or too busy to read. These innovations can help grow our market,” she said.
Dr Egblewogbe highlighted how reading habits are shifting, especially among young people.
“Many now enjoy stories on phones, social media, and even through games. If we do not move with the times, we will lose our young readers,” he warned.
For his part, Dr Okediran of PAWA raised concerns about the profitability of publishing in Africa.
He cited high production costs, weak distribution systems, and low reading culture as barriers to growth, and called for government support and private sector partnerships to sustain the industry.
The panelists concluded that while publishing faces many challenges, building a strong reading culture from childhood is the foundation upon which a thriving book industry can be built.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
News
President Mahama to hold first media encounter of his second term
President John Dramani Mahama will host a Presidential Media Encounter on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
The event is scheduled to place at The Presidency at 8:00pm.
The encounter will provide a unique platform for President Mahama to engage the Ghanaian people through the media, on pressing national issues, his Resetting Ghana Agenda, policies and ongoing projects
It will also offer an opportunity for journalists to pose questions directly to the President on a wide
range of subjects affecting the nation.
Participation will be strictly by accreditation
The Presidency looks forward to a productive and engaging session with the media
News
Star Oil serves final demand notice to Goshers
Lawyers of Star Oil have issued final demand notice to social media user Benjamin Kojo Mensah, popularly known as Goshers, demanding GHS 20 million in damages for defamation.
The company said in a statement that a demand notice was served on Mr. Mensah on Friday morning, but it expired at the close of day on Saturday without compliance.
As a result, Star Oil instructed its lawyers, Lex Vanem & Associates, to proceed to issue a final demand noticd for retraction and rendering of unqualified apology.
The added that, the company will proceed to court should Goshers fail to comply with the directive.
According to the lawyers, Mr. Mensah posted on Facebook on September 3, 2025, alleging that he had been cheated after buying fuel at Star Oil’s Anyinase station near Elubo.
He wrote, “I feel cheated by Star Oil this morning,” and attached a crying emoji and a video.
The company described the post as defamatory, unfounded, and malicious.
It said the post had gained wide attention, with more than 2,000 likes, over 264 comments, at least 30 shares, and more than 58,000 views by the following morning.
The same content was also uploaded on YouTube.
Star Oil noted that its team reached out to Mr. Mensah to understand his concerns but insisted that the claims damaged its reputation.
The company stressed that it had built its brand over the past 27 years to become the largest distributor of petroleum products in Ghana and would not allow social media to be used to tarnish its image.
The company also urged customers who feel cheated or encounter poor service to use Star Oil’s official hotlines or the National Petroleum Authority’s Consumer Protection Service to lodge complaints, saying these were the proper channels for redress.
By: Jacob Aggrey
