Ms. Sophia Boadi, Executive Director of the Sophia Boadi Readathon International Foundation (SBRIF), has described Ghana’s literacy situation as a national emergency requiring urgent and collective action from government, corporate institutions, civil society organisations and citizens.
“We cannot industrialize without thinkers. We cannot lead Africa if our children only read for exams,” she said at the launch of the maiden edition of the Ghana Literacy Fair 2026 in Accra.
The launch, which climaxed the three-day literacy fair, was held at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC)-Atomic under the theme: “Unleashing the Power of Reading to Transform Ghanaian Students and Youth.”
The event brought together more than 1,000 schoolchildren, educators, policymakers, development partners and civil society actors, and featured activities including reading and speech marathons, storytelling sessions, choreography performances and mentorship engagements aimed at promoting a culture of reading among young people.
Ms Boadi announced the launch of the National Readathon Challenge, an initiative expected to engage 500,000 students across the country’s 16 regions over the next 12 months.
The programme, she said, would seek to train 5,000 teachers, establish 100 libraries and nurture future cohorts of young achievers through literacy-focused interventions.
She appealed to government institutions and corporate organisations to support literacy promotion initiatives and urged the Ministry of Education to integrate the Ghana Literacy Fair and the National Readathon Challenge into the official educational calendar.
“We need more than presence; we need policy,” she stressed.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, Technical Advisor to the Minister, described reading as the foundation of all learning and national development.
“Reading is not just a school subject. It is the gateway for everything in school,” he said, adding that without reading, learners would struggle in subjects such as mathematics, science and social studies.
Prof. Oduro expressed concern over the declining reading culture in the country, citing national and international assessments indicating that many Ghanaian children failed to acquire foundational literacy skills during the early years of schooling.
He said available data showed that only about eight per cent of children in Primary Two and Primary Three demonstrated foundational literacy skills, while more than 60 per cent of children in Ghana did not attain minimum proficiency in literacy by the end of primary school.
According to him, children who failed to read proficiently by Primary Three were more likely to struggle academically, drop out of school and encounter difficulties in later life.
“The cost of inaction is high,” he stated.
Prof. Oduro said the Ministry of Education had prioritised foundational learning through curriculum reforms, teacher training, the promotion of phonics-based instruction and the use of Ghanaian languages as mediums of instruction from Kindergarten to Primary Three.
“Our commitment is to make reading a national movement, not just a school activity,” he added.
Dr Wale Okediran, Secretary-General of the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), encouraged students to cultivate reading and writing habits regardless of their academic backgrounds.
“You can be a science student and also write,” he said. “The world today offers many opportunities, but you have to start by reading and passing your examinations.”
He further urged young people to embrace indigenous languages and literature to preserve Africa’s cultural identity and heritage.
Pastor Frank Mensah Tandoh, National Director of the Schools Outreach Ministry of the Church of Pentecost, underscored the importance of nurturing children’s moral values alongside academic excellence.
He said the ministry collaborated with schools and partner organisations to provide mentorship, character development programmes and educational support for vulnerable learners.
Delivering a solidarity message, Dr Joseph Kobla Wemakor, Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), described literacy as a critical human rights and development issue.
“Reading is power. Reading is liberation. Reading is transformation,” he said.
Dr Wemakor noted that literacy empowered young people to understand their rights, resist misinformation and contribute meaningfully to national development.
“A child who can read can better understand their rights. A young person who reads is less vulnerable to manipulation, misinformation, crime and exploitation,” he said.
Dr Wemakor, who also serves as Convener of the Youth Sub-Platform of the Ghana CSOs Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), called for increased investment in school libraries, digital learning opportunities and literacy-focused interventions to empower the next generation.
The Ghana Literacy Fair 2026 was organised by the Sophia Boadi Readathon International Foundation in partnership with the Pan-African Writers Association, the Schools Outreach Ministry and other stakeholders committed to promoting literacy and youth development.
Participants expressed optimism that the initiative would stimulate sustained efforts to cultivate a lifelong reading culture among Ghanaian children and youth across the country.
