National Readathon goes Online

An innovative reading marathon involving several Ghanaian authors from different locations was held online last weekend.

In all, a total of about 4,500 book lovers logged in to enjoy the literary offerings. Dubbed a “Festival of 9 Authors and Readings’’ it was moderated by media personalities Kojo Akoto Boateng, Anny Osabutey and Elizabeth Johnson.  

Cutting across different generations with varied backgrounds, the featured guests were, Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng, Amma Ampong Agyeman-Prempeh, Alba K. Sumprim and Nana Awere Damoah.  

The rest are Bisi Agyepon, Audrey Obuobisa-Darko, Marjorie Boafo Appiah aka Marjy Marj and Kofi Akpabli.

The five-hour event, which provided readers with a fiesta of reading pleasure, was not without incident.
On two occasions, the live steaming was hacked by Zoom bombers but the event was later shifted to a Facebook private TV platform where it went on successfully.

The authors read from their books while viewers from all parts of the world engaged them with questions and text comments.  

Perhaps to underscore the nature of the times ‘‘what made the event special was the star-studded list of distinguished authors featured,” said Nana Elikem, Chief Coordinator of the National Readathon.

“After being holed up for several weeks owing to COVID-19, members of the audience geared up to be serenaded by the magical performance of words,’’ Elikem added.

The DAkpabli National Readathon is an initiative which seeks to promote book reading for pleasure across Ghana as well as local authorship.

Since its inception six years ago, it has served patrons in seven cities across the southern half of Ghana with plans to extend the campaign to the rest of the regions.