Award-winning Ghanaian freelance journalist, Kofi Akpabli has launched his book ‘‘A Sense of Savannah- Tales of a Friendly Walk through Northern Ghana’’ at the National Theatre in Accra. The 150 page glossy book, is a collection of travel articles depicting the culture, tourism and landscape of the three Northern Regions. The author is the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist for Arts and Culture and also the Ghana Journalists Association’s 2010 Best Journalist for Arts and Tourism.

Under the Chairmanship of Dr. Sulley Gariba of the office of the Vice President, the launch ceremony saw culture at its best with the display of Northern dances by Ghana Dance Ensemble while delicacies such as koosey, kuklikuli and pito were served.

In his review Mr. David Odoi, a Senior Lecturer of the Language Centre at the University of Ghana said the book’s conversational and crisp style gives the sense of the familiar thereby breaking the mysticism that surrounds the North. Mr. Odoi describes A Sense of Savannah as a travelogue, a narrative, a tourist guide, a reference book on domestic tourism and a work filled with humour.  Therefore, he added, ‘we no longer need foreign websites to tell our own story of what Northern Ghana look like’.

Launching the book Mr KB Asante, a retired educationist and Diplomat said it is anti-developmental that sections of a country are perceived as a Siberia. Mr Asante paid tribute to emerging young writers adding that by venturing out to such unfamiliar destinations and writing vividly about them the author has produced a priceless legacy.

In his closing remarks Dr Sulley Gariba said works such as A Sense of Savannah offer the nation a new way of re-tooling our approach to bringing development to deprived areas. He noted that the essence of the new book resonates with the ideals of the Savannah Accelerated Development Programme.

Also present at the event were the Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Julius Debrah, General Secretary of the Ghana Journalist Association Bright Blewu and the Regional Cultural Advisor of UNESCO Madam Moji Okuribido.

In his own remarks after the launch, Kofi Akpabli said the book is like giving back since he started freelancing when he did National Service in the Paga. He said information about less known tourist destinations such as those found in the North is useful. ‘‘Registering  the heartbeat of the  places, the smell of the events and the colour of  the people’s aspirations enriches the experience of the visitor. Capturing the essence of this is what A Sense of Savannah is about’’ he said.