Don’t replace books with TV - Prof. Oquaye to students

Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Oquaye has charged pupils, students to cultivate the habit of reading and not replace the mind building activity with watching of television.

The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS), in collaboration with the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) and the Parliament of Ghana held “Parliament Reads - 2020” under the theme “Inspiring the Next Generation Leaders to be Readers.”

“In this world of ICT, everything is regulated by knowledge; therefore, reading forms a very essential part of your growth” the Speaker noted.

He read a few pages to encourage the participants to read continually.

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Parliamentary Press, Parliament Library and the Protocol Department, were fully represented at the event, alongside some Members of Parliament (MPs), who read pages to and interacted with participants. Notable among the MPs present were Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu – Minister of Health, Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison –Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Hon. Peter Nortsu-Kotoe –Ranking Member of Education Select Committee, among others.

On his part, Hon. Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze, Member of Parliament of Central Tongu Constituency also advised the pupils to take reading seriously if they want to be prominent citizens in future. He added that, “Knowledge is like a Baobab tree, very huge, hence you need to read a lot in order to acquire knowledge. I would not have become a Member of Parliament if I had not taken my reading seriously.”

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa encouraged the Upper Primary pupils to adopt a reading culture after having interacted and read aloud to the pupils.

The pupils took turns to excitedly visit the Ghana Library Authority’s Mobile Library Van and selected books of their choice to read.

Private school pupils and staff present were given the opportunity to observe Parliamentary proceedings from the Gallery of the Chamber. The Parliamentary Librarians also gave participants, a tour at the Library.



This event, which was the maiden edition, has been instituted as an annual event, to bring students in close contact with MPs and other prominent dignitaries. The event falls under the united objective of both GNACOPS and GhLA, to inculcate the habit of reading in Ghanaians, especially children.

Private school students and staff at the event were filled with excitement for being part of the programme, which offered to them, the opportunity to interact closely with the lawmakers of this country.