News:
September 22, 2011
Mr Albert S.K. Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on Wednesday pledged to finance the education of a young talented visually-impaired writer, Master Luri Abdus Samad Baduongkorikori.
The 23-year-old native of Wellembelle in the Sissala East District of Upper West Region, has written a number of novels and poetry including the recently published “Hell on Earth,” one of Mr Babgin’s favourite.
Mr Bagbin made the pledge at the maiden Ghana Book Festival organised by Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) in Accra.
It was a fair organised to provide stakeholders in the industry to interact, share knowledge and experience as well as suggest solutions to sustain creative writing.
Mr Bagbin, who is a member of GAW, an avid reader and writer, said he acknowledged the significant contributions made by creative literary writers to shape the attitude and behaviour of society as well as unlocking the potential of individuals for development.
He expressed worry that writers were not properly remunerated and supported.
Mr Bagbin recounted that he met Master Baduongkorikori in Wa after an impressive literary performance.
He said he was impressed by the youngman’s talent that the pledged to support the lowly and unassuming Baduongkorikori to complete his education.
Mr Bagbin invited Master Baduongkorikori to read a portion of chapter two of his novel “Hell on Earth.”
The young writer thereafter treated the enchanted audience to a poetic recital.
The poem is an expose of some hypocritical, ungrateful and greedy politicians who used the electorate to achieve their aim.
Master Baduongkorikori called for support to talented writers to enable them to contribute their quotas to national development.
Master Baduongkorikori born on January 1, 1988, became visually-impaired when he was 12 years old.
Determined to be educated and stand tall among his peers, enrolled in Wa School of the Blind in 2000 and thereafter pursued further studies in Wa Senior High School in 2008.
Master Baduongkorikori had participated in and enviably distinguished himself in a number of literary writers’ competition including Upper West Regional AIDS Essay Competition and National Spelling Bee competition.
GNA