Beacon Reading Club

IN an effort to promote the culture of reading among Ghanaians, a reading club, known as Beacon Books Forum, will on Saturday June 6, 2009 promote reading through interview programmes on radio and articles in the newspapers at the premises of Sunny FM at North Ridge in Accra.
Members of the club will discuss the best selling first novel of the African Writers Series, “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, as part of activities marking its second anniversary celebration.
All those who attend will enjoy 5 per cent discount on books they buy from Beacon Books Company during the programme, among other activities..
The reading club which was established two years ago was to create a friendly environment where members of the club could network and exchange ideas for contiuous learning and personal development through reading.
A co-founder of the club, Mr Ebow Spio, said the club sought to inspire and equip members to develop themselves by reading a wide range of quality and mind stimulating books that would develop the person.
This philosophy he said was based on the appreciation of the Chinese proverb that says, “A book holds a house of gold”.
The club currently has a regular membership of 150 people from varied backgrounds, predominantly young business executives, graduates and students from tertiary institutions.
The club has over the last two years held a number of reading competitions and also reviewed a number of books on various topics including, leadership, change, finance and investment.
Members of the club, have, among others reviewed the books namely; “31 Days to Financial Independence” by Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh, “12 Keys to Financial Success” by Stephen Adei and “Pathways of Success: 21 sure steps to the way to the top” by Dr Mensa Otabil.
Mr Spio said books for reading and reviews were selected based on recommendations of members of the club to ensure that the books selected appealed to majority of the members.
He noted that members of the club had developed a passion and appetite for reading, adding that, by this development, most members of the club have established their own libraries at home.
According to Mr Spio, members have testified that their association with Beacon Book Forum and more importantly reading and applying the knowledge and principles from the books that they have discussed, have had positive influence on their lives.
For instance, a member said he started investing in mutual funds such as EPACK after he had appreciated the importance of personal finance and investment and understood how the numerous investment instruments on the Ghanaian Stock Market worked, after participating in one of the reading programmes.