The 23rd Ghana International Book Fair will be held from August 27 to 30, 2026, at the National Theatre of Ghana, with a call on Ghanaians to place reading at the centre of national development.

The four-day event, being held under the theme "Transforming Ghana's Future Through Books," was launched on Thursday, August 20, 2026, in Accra at a press conference.

The fair is being organised by the Ghana International Book Fair Governing Board, with support from the Ghana Printers and Paper Converters Association and the Bureau of Ghana Languages.

The Chairman of the Ghana International Book Fair, Mr Edward Yaw Udzu Esq., said the fair was more than an exhibition, describing it as a national invitation to rediscover the importance of reading and knowledge.

"Books are far more than printed pages. They are vessels of knowledge, windows into new worlds, records of our history and culture, and powerful instruments for shaping minds and changing lives," he said.

According to him, the fair will bring together publishers, authors, booksellers, librarians, educators, students, policymakers, development partners and book lovers to exchange ideas, discover new books and celebrate Ghanaian literature.

He said the event would also provide a platform for industry players to discuss challenges facing the publishing sector, including rising production costs, piracy, limited financing, distribution difficulties and declining reading habits.

Mr Udzu, however, noted that these challenges also presented opportunities to build a stronger and more innovative book ecosystem, particularly at a time when digital technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping content creation and consumption.

He said the public would have the opportunity to buy books, meet authors and participate in activities designed to promote reading and learning.

Mr Udzu made a passionate appeal to parents, teachers, students and families to attend the fair and encourage young people to develop a strong reading culture.

"To young people across Ghana: read widely, think deeply and dream boldly. Your future may begin with the pages of a book," he said.

He said books remained essential to Ghana's efforts to promote innovation, creativity and national development.

"A book can introduce a child to a new possibility, inspire an entrepreneur, preserve our heritage and give a young person the confidence to dream," he added.

The Executive Director of the Ghana International Book Fair, Miss Yvonne Bossman, also called on Ghanaians to place books at the centre of the country's development agenda, describing reading as a foundation for innovation, leadership and national growth.

She said the four-day event would provide a platform to reignite the culture of reading and position books as important tools for transforming minds and communities.

The fair will feature exhibitions, literary events, workshops, forums, competitions and business networking opportunities, bringing together publishers, writers, booksellers, librarians, educators and readers.

Among the highlights will be the maiden Ghana Star Reader National Reading Competition for students and Reading with Champions, an interactive session in which accomplished personalities will read to children.

"The future of reading in Ghana cannot be built by one organisation alone. We call on everyone to participate," Miss Bossman said.

She said the event would also examine ways to promote literacy and address the decline in reading culture, appealing to parents, teachers, schools, libraries, publishers, authors and businesses to encourage reading.

Participants are expected from several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, India, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

The organisers said the fair would assemble publishers, authors, educators, students, policymakers and book lovers for book sales, exhibitions, panel discussions and other activities aimed at promoting literacy and knowledge.