Queen Mother of Suisi-Okwenya and Kodjonya-Adadlikuorsi in the Manya Krobo Traditional Area of the Eastern Region, Manye Nokolawe I, has taken a leading role in promoting literacy and educational development in her community.

This was after she successfully facilitated a major book and stationery donation to the Kodjonya Millennium Presby Primary and Junior High Schools.

The intervention, supported by the Mosaic Legacy Foundation under its “Read A Book” Project, brought 150 storybooks with pictorial illustrations and more than 600 sets of stationery to the school’s 506 primary pupils and 213 JHS students.

The donation was presented at a durbar held on the school compound, attended by traditional leaders, pupils and students, education officials, parents, teachers, school management members, and executives from the Mosaic Legacy Foundation.



But at the heart of the ceremony was Manye Nokolawe, whose advocacy and community leadership made the initiative possible.

A queen mother championing literacy

Addressing the gathering, Manye Nokolawe said the intervention was driven by her desire to encourage children—particularly girls—to take their education seriously.

She highlighted reading as the foundation of personal development and leadership.

“We came here to encourage the children so they understand the importance of education and learning for the future,” she said.

“A woman can also hold key positions; Ghana’s Vice President is a woman. But
to achieve this, you need to learn through reading. If you pick the book and refuse to read, you cannot achieve your dreams.”



The Queen Mother expressed satisfaction with the students’ reading demonstrations during the durbar and called for more interventions to support literacy in basic schools.

She also appealed to educators to involve chiefs and queen mothers in addressing challenges within schools so traditional leadership can contribute their quota.

“The girls especially should be serious and stay focused,” she added.

A foundation empowering communities through books

The Mosaic Legacy Foundation has, for seven years, championed literacy across several regions.

Founder and leader Wendy Nana Kobi Amaning noted that this donation marked the foundation’s tenth literacy project since 2019.



She explained that the foundation works closely with queen mothers, who play a critical role in selecting beneficiary schools.

“We aim to encourage students to read because reading is the basis for everything; otherwise, academics would be difficult for them,” she said.

“Some schools don’t have enough books to encourage students. Reading enlightens and broadens their minds and opens them to new things. The kids should never give up on reading and education.”

The foundation stocks school libraries with books and distributes stationery directly to learners, relying on personal contributions from its members to finance the interventions.

School authorities express gratitude

The Headmistress of the primary department, Benedicta Hormenya, welcomed the donation, describing it as timely and impactful.

She noted that many parents in public schools struggle to purchase readers and textbooks for their children.



“This gesture will help us a lot,” she said.

“It will complement their reading materials and help them cultivate a good reading habit. We will share the books across the various classes based on difficulty levels. On behalf of the school, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and appeal for more support.”

Traditional leaders affirm commitment to education,/b>

Also present was Nene Olepeme Sakinor Nanor I, Chief of Suisi Okuenya and Kodjonya-Adadlikuorsi, who praised the collaboration.

He reiterated the responsibility of traditional leaders to bring development to their communities, adding that parents and school authorities must work together to support learners’ discipline and progress.

Education directorate applauds the initiative

The Municipal Director of Education for Lower Manya Krobo, Samuel Kwesi Tettey, commended the foundation and lauded Manye Nokolawe’s leadership in facilitating the intervention.



He described the donation as an investment in the future of learners and aligned it with the municipality’s 2025 theme: “Practicalising the Successful Schools Agenda: Anything worth doing is worth doing well.”

Tettey emphasised that reading proficiency remains one of the strongest predictors of academic success and urged other organisations and individuals to support education in the region.

“No contribution is too small,” he said.

Activities to inspire the learners

The event featured mentorship sessions by Mosaic members on young entrepreneurship, environmental cleanliness, and girl-child education.

Students also showcased cultural performances, a drama on reading, reading activities, and a spelling competition.



The intervention, led by Manye Nokolawe, stands as a powerful example of how traditional female leadership and civil society partnerships can transform the educational landscape and inspire a stronger reading culture among Ghana’s children.