UNESCO Director-General Audrey Audrey speaks at a ceremony in Ghana's capital, Accra, on 24 April. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Seth)
Accra, April 24 (Xinhua) -- UNESCO announced on the 24th that Accra, the capital of Ghana, officially took over the city of Guadalajara, Mexico, and became the "World Book Capital" in 2023.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said at a ceremony in Accra on the same day that the choice of this place as the "World Book Capital" is to support African literature and writers and eliminate the reading barrier that exists in Africa.
She said the lack of public libraries was one of the main obstacles to the development of the book industry in Africa. Moreover, although Africa has more than 3,000 languages, publications are scarce.
People browse books in front of a booth at a book fair in Accra, Ghana, April 24. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Seth)
Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo said at the ceremony that for Ghana, Accra becoming the "World Book Capital" is not only a reading promotion activity, but also will promote the development of Ghana's cultural and creative industries and create more jobs for young people.
The World Book Capital is an initiative launched by UNESCO in 2001 to increase public interest in reading and promote book publishing. Madrid, Spain, becomes the first "World Book Capital". Since then, one city has been awarded the title of "World Book Capital" every year.
Several students read on tablets at a book fair in Accra, Ghana's capital, April 24. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Seth)
Several students read books at a book fair in Accra, Ghana's capital, on April 24. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Seth)
Several students read books at a book fair in Accra, Ghana's capital, on April 24. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Seth)