The Ama Ata Aidoo Centre for Creative Writing launches its first Anthology
The forecourt of African University College of Communications (AUCC), on Tuesday witnessed the launch of an anthology, a book compiled and published by Nana S. Achampong, titled: Adabraka: Stories from the Centre of the world.
The book features short stories from 14 creative writers put together into one piece. The writers are Kwasi Sei, Araba Shaw, Osafo Kofi Asanti, Sena Kobla, Serwa Gyadu Amo, Kwaku Baah Akyimpo and Seyram Asimah. The rest are Alvin Akuamoah, Akofa Dawson, Elikam N. Aflaku, Mercy Addai, Kofi Bekoi, as well as Kofi Marfo and Kwasi Wood.
The launch began with a speech delivered by the Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah, who commended the initiative of coming up with such an historical literary work, and thus stressed on the need for literary work as a tool for change.
"And I want to assure you that, in our quest to change Accra, we will make literary work an integral part of our society. What it means is that, for whatever course we have, and for whatever we have done, can be in a form of a book, that will be on the shelves for the next generation to know"; he said.He further stressed on the need of maintaining our cultural values despite the crave for modernization, and thus said: "...community is changing and we need to adopt to modernity without compromising or sacrificing, of our root, our culture; what we stand for, and what we aspires to be."
He finally added that, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has constructed a new office which is yet to commissioned; and thus indicated that in that office there is resource centre which is meant to showcase resource of Accra and everything about Ghana, so that any body who comes into that building, could walk in and get all the needed resources about Accra.
"The resource centre is to showcase about Accra. It is a library but we don't want want to call it a library but a resource centre. We are looking for books about Accra and beyond to fill the shelves, and I am sure this book is going to be the first book on the shelves of the resource centre"; the mayor assured.
The Queen mother of Adabraka was honoured with the opportunity in reviewing of the book; and as such, read a passage from the book. She ended by acknowledging the Ama Atta Aido centre of creative writing, and the anthologist of the book Nana S. Achampong for such an initiative.
The book was officially launched by the founder of the African University College of Communications, Hon. Kojo Yankah. On his part, he called on the invited guest to helped him in extending his sincere appreciating to the anthologist of the book, Nana S. Achampong; who doubled as lecturer and director of the Ama Atta Aidoo centre for creative writing, for being the sole revival of the centre.
The founder, further emphasized that the Ama Atta Aidoo centre for creative writing is only a tool used in bring out the best talent in people, and thus stressed on the need to involve creative arts in our schools curriculum. And to that effect, he made the revelation that, from the next academic year, AUCC will introduce two new courses, and one of them will be the creative arts.
A limit of 20 copies of the book, autographed by the contributing writers were auctioned to the general public. The very first copy was auctioned at a price rate of Gh¢5,000, while the second went for Gh¢2,500. The third and fourth copies settled for a rate at Gh¢1,000 respectively. However, the fifth copy surprisingly pulled a price rate same as the first copy went for. The sixth auctioned copy leveled at Gh¢500; while the seventh and the remaining copies out of the 20 went for Gh¢100 each.
Certificates were presented to individual writers who contributed to the book. The certificates were presented to them by the president of the Ghana Association of Writers, Nana Kwasi Gyan Apenteng. Mr Appenteng, before the presentation revealed that his organization (Ghana Association of Writers) has accorded onto each contributing writer, a full membership of the association.
The launch drew from the walks, guest from the general public; including the Mayor of Accra, the Chief, the Queen mother and some indigence of the Adabraka community. Also in attendance were representatives from institutions like the Barclay's Bank of Ghana, the Ghana Library Council, and the Ghana Association of Writers. Others includes the founder, staffs, lecturers; and some past and present students of AUCC. Some selected students from some basic, secondary and tertiary institutions were also in attendance.
It was christened with some culture performances.
By Ibrahim Mohammed Atikutse
Source https://legalaimclassifications.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-ama-atta-aidoo-centre-for-creative.html?m=1