Ghanaian author, playwright and academic Ama Ata Aidoo will take part in this year’s Accra International Book Festival.

Other speakers include author Nana Damoah Awere, American writer Brooke C. Obie, Ghanaian poet Chief Moomen, novelist Ayesha Harruna Attah and Joy FM’s Manasseh Azure Awuni.

The event will also be used to mark the International Literacy Day celebrated on September 8.

Actors and actresses who will share their stories on what it means to be in front of the camera will include Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku.

The 2018 festival will come off from 6-9 September.

This year’s theme ‘Amplify’ emphasises the power of the writer to shape the destiny of his people by capturing their hurts, pains, and worries in their projects.

‘Ghana’s next gold’

AIBF West Africa Coordinator, Kwabena Brakopowers told participants at the Tuesday launch the festival will provide the impetus Ghanaian writers need to excel on the international stage.

Taking inspiration from the success of Finnish literature in Europe, he said the AIBF is on an expedition to make Ghanaian literature the “next gold” for the country.

“We’re working with some writers and organisations to turn our literature into the next cocoa, gold, and oil for Ghana,” he said.

The launch of this year’s festival was attended by key personalities such as Lancaster University Ghana Provost Professor Anthony Jarvis, writer and human activists, Esi Sutherland-Addy, Nana Ansah Kwao IV, and Oheneyere Gifty Anti.

Other guests include Ghana Book Trust Executive Director, Genevieve Eba-Polley, students of Awutu-Winton SHS in the Central Region and some writers.

The partners for the 2018 festival are Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies (IAS) and the Tourism Ministry.

Busy Ghana is the Internet Sponsor of the event.