Ghana Writers Association marks World Poetry Day

The Ghana Writers Association (GAW) has marked World Poetry Day with a call on Ghanaians to appreciate the importance of poetry to the sustenance of cultural values.

In 1997, UNESCO earmarked March 21 annually as World Poetry Day to enable people pay attention to poetry recital and its importance to the sustenance of cultural values.

In an interview with GNA, Mr Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, President of GAW, called on Ghanaians to pay particular attention to poetry because it had now become part and parcel of their daily lives.

“Poetry is not only about reciting things, but even the reading of the Bible and Quaran, the rap music we listen to are all forms of poetry. In fact poetry has become part of our society and daily lives.”

He said GAW had instituted a programme dubbed “GAW Sunday” which takes place on the first Sunday of every month to entertain people with music, storytelling, poetry and reading at the premises of Pan African Writers' Association (PAWA) House at Roman Ridge.

Mr Gyan-Apenteng expressed concern about the current trend of parents shying away from communicating in local languages with their children. This attitude, he said, could lead to children losing hold on the use of local languages as well as the survival of folklores and history.

“If our children cannot properly speak our local languages, how do we expect them to communicate effectively with the people at the grassroots when they want to become Members of Parliament?”

Mr Gyan-Apenteng, who is also a columnist in the “Mirror,” expressed appreciation to Professor Kofi Anyidoho, Professor Attukwei Okai for their efforts in popularizing poetry in the country.

There were poetry and musical performances from members of GAW and students from the Presbyterian Boys Senior High School, Legon.**