The First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo has launched a literacy initiative geared towards inculcating in school children the habit of reading.

Dubbed Learning to read, reading to learn, the initiative is to broaden the knowledge of the students on issues of importance.

The initiative which is in collaboration with the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) is part of the projects by the Rebecca Foundation.

The project will be telecast on GTV and will have eminent personalities including actors take school children through some reading sessions.

“Books have ignited our imagination to experience places we have never been to. We know of galaxies planets and space mostly through the power of words,” she said at the launch which had several dignitaries including the RCS Africa head John Apea.

The initiative will also lead to the building of libraries across the country.

“We have already started the first one in the Bia West District and the second will start soon. Of course, we can only do this with the support of donors and we, therefore, appeal to interested donors to support the project, which is in the national interest,” she said.

The Education Minister in a speech read on his behalf applauded the Rebecca Foundation for the laudable initiative taken.

According to him, the initiative aligns with government’s own reforms in the education sector especially at the pre-tertiary level and pledged government’s continued support for the project.

On his part, the RCS Africa head John Apea who has been part of the incubation stage of the initiative was full of praise for the initiative.

“Learning to read, reading to learn”, is a very bold initiative and the RCS Africa office is happy to partner the first lady and the Rebecca Foundation to make this happen.

“The launch of this project could not have come at a better time when the Vice - Patron of RCS London, the Duchess of Cornwall, a great proponent of literacy, is coming to Ghana to support other literacy activities in the country by the Commonwealth,” Mr Apea said.