Accra Feb.26, GNA - Mr Atukwei Okai, Secretary General of the Pan African Writers' Association (PAWA), on Thursday identified poor marketing of African books as one of the weaknesses facing the book publishing industry in Ghana.
He has, therefore, called on publishers to be focused, innovative, aggressive and committed in marketing African books so that creative works of writers do not go waste.
"Where and when there is a failure in this division of the publishing chain, then all the precious investments-creative and financial- are held hostage in the dungeons of the warehouse." Mr Okai made these remarks when he inaugurated the first six-member board of Directors of the Ghana International Book Fair Trust (GIBOFT) in Accra.
GIBOFT is tasked with organising local and international books fairs in Ghana. It is also aimed at showcasing the intellectual and cultural values of Ghana and creating a forum for discussing issues affecting the publishing industry locally and globally.
He said poor marketing of African books did not only halt investments in books on the part of the publisher but "slaughter authors aspiration and motivation."
The PAWA General Secretary, who is also a Senior Research Fellow, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, lauded the formation of GIBOFT, and urged Ghanaian writers to use the Trust as a platform for their books to be showcased to foreign publishers and ultimately foreign readership.
He said: "Since the development of African world had been savagely disrupted by centuries of slavery, colonialism and oppression, we now have the task to correct the damage that has been caused through various phases of the campaign of self-recovery and revival."
Mr Okai pointed out that the different corrective agents of African revival could be identified among educationists, scientists and economists, adding that the most critical brigade of corrective agents were the writers.
He, therefore, urged African writers to use their works to bring about change among Africans.
Mr Okai advised members of GIBOFT to identify all resourceful persons so that their experience could be tapped to the benefit of Ghanaian writers and the entire continent.
He further urged them to accord foreign exhibitors the Ghanaian hospitality, by providing security, good accommodation, among other things, to ensure that they participated in other fairs.
Members of GIBOFT include: Ms Akoss Ofori-Mensah of the Ghana Book Publishers Association, Mr Fred Reimmer, Ghana Book Sellers Association and Dr Kwesi Annoh, Ghana Association of Writers.
The rest are Mr Appiah Berko (Senior), Ghana Printers and Paper Converters Association, Mr Kwame Alorvi, National Association of Graduate Teachers and Dr Rex Quartey, Ghana International Book Fair. Mr Kwaku M. Ganu, Chairman, Planning and Implementation Committee of GIBOFT, said this year's Ghana International Book Fair would be held at the National Theatre from November 9 to November 14, under the theme: "Strengthening The Book Chain For International Cooperation."
He announced that a web page was being designed to include application forms and other details for online registration.
Mrs Agnes Ofosua Vandyck, Immediate Executive Director of the Ghana Book Development Council, who chaired, urged Ghanaian writers to develop brochures and other materials to enhance the sale of books. She urged members of GIBOFT to work hard to attract at least one exhibitor from a West African State to all fairs.
