Ebenezer Okrah, a former television presenter, on Thursday launched his second book in Accra with the aim of offering Ghanaians a stress-free life.
The 83-page pocket-sized book titled, ‘My Pocket Book of Laughter’ is a collection of jokes, dedicated to the author’s mother, the late Deaconess Comfort Okrah of the Church of Pentecost.
Speaking at the launch of the book, Mr Okrah said most people lived in harsh conditions with a lot of challenges adding that it had resulted in them becoming frustrated.
He said it was, therefore, necessary to deal with everyday problems more crucially and with a critical approach.
Describing the book as a healing balm, he said the content of the book was good for everyone no matter the age adding that, “The book cuts across political, social and religious aspects of life.”
Mr Okrah said it was time the youth got back to reading as knowledge was found in books.
He said it was unfortunate that the interest of the youth had drifted to the negative aspect of social media and called on writers and various stakeholders to find innovative ways to bring back the reading culture.
An Administrator at the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW), Ebo Ansah Donkor who spoke on behalf of the president of the association said GAW had declared the month of March as ‘Read a Ghana book month’ with the aim of arousing the diminishing interest in reading among the youth.
He said it was also to encourage Ghanaians to read books published by Ghanaian authors in order to promote patriotism.
He said literacy was necessary to fulfill dreams of both young and old, adding that the reading culture had dwindled and it was only through reading that one could become knowledgeable.
Mr Donkor indicated that the current state of high indiscipline in the country could only be solved through reading and, therefore, called on Ghanaians to encourage reading among the youth to raise the fallen standards in the society.
BY JEMIMA ESINAM KUATSINU
