Takoradi, July 23, GNA - MV Logos Hope, an international charitable ship carrying 7,500 books, has berthed at the Takoradi Port to begin a 12 day goodwill visit to the oil city.
Welcoming the over 400 volunteer staff and crew members at a ceremony held on board the ship, Madam Betty Busumtwi-Sam, Western Regional Deputy Minister, admonished parents and guardians to inculcate reading habits into their wards for them to improve upon their English language.
She noted that good reading at the foundation stage helped the child to develop his or her talent. She, therefore, impressed on parents to monitor their children's activities to ensure that they spent much time reading.
"It is incumbent on the youth to eschew negative tendencies that would mar their future career and rather direct their energies into productive ventures by frequenting the libraries to pick a book and read," she said.
Madam Busumtwi-Sam said it was better to start reading at the early stage than to wait and go through non formal education later in life.
The Deputy Minister assured the crew and staff of the ship of Ghana's hospitality. She told them to feel free and interact with the Ghanaians, who would come on board the ship to know each other's cultural differences.
Nana Kofi Imbeah, Metropolitan Educational Director, said his outfit would draw a programme for pupils and students in schools in the deprived areas of the Region to visit the ship and to buy books.
He encouraged parents to give their wards money to buy some of the books because they would help them to improve on their vocabulary.
The Master of the ship, Captain Dirk Colenbrander, said the staff and crew members are all volunteers from 50 different nations.
He said there was a great sense of unity among the crew and staff on board the ship, who sell the books in addition to bringing knowledge, help and hope to all nations they visited.
To this end, while at berth, they would host programmes including seminars on religion and other topics for children, adults, and women as well as undertake community services and make donations to deprived people in the region.
