The Logos Hope

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Growing up as a child living in Tema, I had this inexplicable love for books, my parents would always buy me books especially African novels, my favorite book was Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I even remember participating in a Read 100 challenge organized by Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, hosted by Kojo Oppong Nkrumah back then. (the OG’s remember) I remember hearing about the Logos Hope but I never really got the chance to see it. Hold on, before I share my experience. Here’s a little backstory on the Logos Hope no one asked for .

Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating book fair, which operates as part of a Christian outreach, is docked at the Tema Port from January 21 to February 27 at the clinker Ghacem gate to undertake mission work in Ghana.

MV Logos Hope is a ship operated as a part of a Christian outreach movement by Gute Bücher für Alle.[2] She was built in 1973 as the ferry MV Gustav Vasa for service between Malmö (Sweden) and Travemünde (Germany) and later operated as the MV Norröna providing a ferry service to the Faroe Islands.

Interesting fact from this - the ship identifies as a female.

Its an international ship sharing knowledge, help and hope through literature, cultural understanding, relief work and much more.

Source: Wikipedia

Earlier in January, I saw on a WhatsApp status, a flyer stating the dates the ship would be in Ghana, I was excited. I took a screenshot and put the dates up on my calendar.I had to see the Logos Hope this year. It was a “do or die” affair. The Logos Hope was returning to Ghana after six years after their last visit. “Don’t take hold of this opportunity and see” I told myself.

It was Logos Hope Day! I arrived at the port at around 3pm and behold was a long winding queue. Shortly after I joined the queue, we were given numbers and the security men were ordered not to allow anymore people join the queue since they had reached their limit intake for the day. Man! those who came after that time were absolutely gutted, even the children. We paid Ghc8 ($1.18,£0.89)and got a chit, it was free for the kids. Tell me why it’s 6pm and I was still in the queue! I was tired and hungry but the excitement overrode all these feelings.

At approximately 6:17pm, we were walking into this big baby, the ever grand Logos Hope in all its

glory. I felt like a child walking up a stairs into the

ship, it was really my childhood dream. [inserts meme] “I was overjoyed and up till now the enjoyment is still there”

In the ship we were given an on-screen tour. Shortly after, it was time to enter the book store. As everyone was dashing into the shelves to pick up books I was overwhelmed by the number of books as I walked around slowly staring at the books (I think I did this for about 7 minutes straight ). I didn’t even know what books to select, with time I settled on “The last juror” and “The runaway juror “by John Grisham “Home sweet murder “ by James Patterson and a book journal to document my book reading journey it had four sections. Each book costs 200 units each that was Ghc28 ($4.15,£3.11)and I got a Logos Hope souvenir for 25 units that’s Ghc3.50 (£0.39,$0.52)

Section 1 - Your reading list

Section 2- While you read

Section 3- Book club notes

Section 4- Keeping organized

I felt really accomplished you know? Ticking off this childhood bucket list at my big age unapologetically. Reading is actually very nice. If you don’t read you should probably start, you’ll love it .

The Logos Hope