Make Reading A Habit - Justice Kuenyehia

Former First Vice President of the International Criminal Court, and a Judge Her Excellency Justice Akua Kuenyehia has appealed to parents and teachers to encourage their children and students to make reading a habit.

According to her reading is the mother of all success. Thus the need to read and read extensively for the development of the well-being of the citizenry cannot be overemphasised.

Judge Kuenyehia as she is affectionately called made the appealed at the launch of two books: "WISDOM, FAITH AND A SONG and, THEY TOUCHED US FOR GOOD" authored by the Board Chairman of The BEIGE Bank (TBB) Mr Kofi Otutu Adu Labi at the Victory Presbyterian Church in Accra.

The learned and international acclaimed judge remained the gathering how indispensable reading is to the acquisition of knowledge.

H E Judge Kuenyehia explained that in her early days in school she could vividly described how the various cities in Australia and countries looks like even though she had never travelled before.

"I remember people asking whether I had been in Australia before and I tell no, I got to know more about Australia because I read from books and magazines which talks more it." She recalled.

A Member of the Council of State and former Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Her Ladyship Justice Mrs. Georgina Theodore Wood who chaired the function called on educational institutions and individuals to patronise the book since it was educative and would positively impact on the society.

He described Mr Adu Labi as a pragmatic personality and a gift from God.

In his address, the author, revealed that Ghana is facing a wisdom problem we all need to accept and address it as a people. This he maintained it will not go away if we behave like ostriches and pretend that we do not see it.

Mr Adu Labi explained his current collection of books represent a passion in him to pass on what he consider valuable lessons from the School of Life through the tool of storytelling.

According to him there are three threads which run through the book "WISDOM, FAITH AND A SONG". One is that wisdom will help you stand out from the crowd.

The second thread, he noted was that everyone on earth need faith to survive in the world. For example faith in our future is what will propel us to invest in our lives and those of our children. This has deep implications for nation building. He indicated

The third thread he said was a confirmation of the power of song. Saying "Indeed I have often found myself shedding silent tears whenever I sing some of the hymns highlighted in the book. A Methodist Minister friend of mine once called me the Weeping Prophet, on account of this tendency, a phenomenon which he says he experiences regularly himself. These lessons informed the choice of title.

The second book, THEY TOUCHED US FOR GOOD, is dedicated to all the leaders who have influenced him and countless others for good, with special reference to Mr S. T. Ampofo, his secondary school Headmaster at Ofori Panin Secondary School.

The thrust of the book is that leadership should be about influence. Influence that is purposeful, positively impactful, lasting and cross-generational.

The examples from the lives of Mrs Joyce Asibey (or Auntie Joyce of Aburi Girls) BEPOW SO HANN, Mrs Clarice Howorth (or Miss Garnett or Garnie of Wesley Girls) LIVE PURE, S. T. Ampofo of Ofori Panin (still alive and sprightly at 92) MPAYINFO, Esther Afua Ocloo of Nkulenu Industries (A Bush Girl comes to town) and finally the story of my own mother, Yaa Okyerebea Adu Labi, who first wore shoes when she qualified as a specialist Home Science teacher from the Agogo Basel Mission Training College in 1939.

The launch brought together Her Excellency Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur, wife of the former Vice President, Very Rev Professor Emmanuel Martey, immediate past Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev Col David Adoteye-Asare, Fafraha District Minister, Clergy, Mr Emmanuel Asiedu-Mante, former First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, and Dr Johnson Asiama, Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana among others.

"Madam Chair, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, last year we gave out partial proceeds from the book sales, after paying off publishing and printing costs, to three charitable causes.

By the grace of God, we intend adopting the same approach this year.

Accordingly, partial proceeds from the sales of the books being launched today will go to the following causes: Victory Evangelism, the Kairos Youth Foundation of Victory Congregation, the Akua Kuenyehia Foundation for Okyerebea Scholarships for girls from Abiriw and the Dansoman Emmanuel Presbyterian Church Scholarship Scheme" the author announced.