Mr Alfred Vanderpuije, Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, has encouraged parents and teachers to introduce pupils to various forms of writing through reading in their formative years to develop their writing skills.
He said reading as a habit is declining among young people as they rather spend their time on computer games and watching television.
“It is every responsible teacher’s duty to instil reading habits in children because reading opens the fortunes for priceless knowledge,” he said.
Mr Vanderpuije said this at a video conference organised by the Osu Home Junior High and Bronzeville Public School in New York, USA, to exchange views and share ideas on the importance of reading among children to commemorate the World Reading Day.
Both the Accra and the New York City Mayors read story books to the admiration of the pupils to promote reading among children.
Mr Vanderpuije said the event was part of the Millennium City Project to engage school children in reading that would mould and develop them to possess higher esteem and self confidence.
He said the best way to learn was through sufficient reading, adding that no amount of money or time spent on attending courses could make up for the lack of reading.
He encouraged parents to prioritise reading over watching television and watching computer games in their homes.
“Once children enjoy reading, they will definitely have no time to loiter in public places where they are likely to fall into bad companies and to be led astray,” he said.