He stressed that lit­erature equipped young people with empathy and awareness to confront complex issues.

Mr Ziblim said this on Friday in Accra at the Adwinsa Children’s Show, held on the theme “The Role of Reading in Addressing Social Issues”. The event, organised annually by Adwinsa Pub­lications under the Ghana Publishers Association, formed part of the 22nd Ghana International Book Fair.

According to him, reading was not merely an academic pursuit but a form of social awakening, capable of shaping values and empowering children to take responsibility for the nation’s future.

He urged Ghanaians to view the fight against environmental destruction as not only an economic or social concern but a moral duty to safeguard lives.

The Chief Executive Officer of Adwinsa Publications, Mr Kwaku Oppong Amponsah, in his statement said this year’s Adwinsa Children’s Show was dedicated to raising awareness on the dangers of illegal mining (galamsey), in memory of the eight Ghanaians who lost their lives in the national fight against the menace.

He explained that the programme had, over the years, used literature to highlight social issues affecting the nation.

For 2025, the featured book, Abebrese: Shadows of Wealth, was chosen to address the devastating consequences of galamsey on the environment and communities.

Mr Oppong Amponsah stressed that the issue of illegal mining remained critical at this stage of Ghana’s development, warning that the future of children was at risk if urgent action was not taken.

He added that the strong turnout at the show reflected a unified national voice against the destructive practice, emphasising that both Ghanaians and foreigners living in the country bore responsibility in safe­guarding the environment