President Akufo-Addo has made a passionate appeal to all Ghanaians to support his administration’s drive to expand access to libraries across the country, noting that the availability of libraries everywhere in the country, is an essential prerequisite to meeting the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal four (SDG 4).
Speaking at the project commissioning of the Edward Akufo-Addo public library yesterday at Frafraha, Adenta, President Akufo-Addo, said “it is unfortunate that after 71 years of the existence of the public library service in Ghana, most Ghanaians still do not have access to this important community anchor institution (libraries) whose role in the growth and development of our society is extremely positive”.
To remedy this situation, the President noted that “over the last five years”, his “government has redefined the mandate of the Ghana Library Authority and charged it to be responsive to the growing needs of the Ghanaian population”.
He has therefore encouraged all Ghanaians to support the expansion of library services for the benefit of all.
He said we cannot achieve sustainable development goal 4 which requires that we promote quality education for all by relegating the development of libraries to the background.
In his address, the President identified three individuals who have in recent times made contributions to the expansion of libraries in the country.
First, the President named the first lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, who he says has “through the Rebecca Foundation”, “built and handed over 10 library facilities to the Ghana Library Authority with 6 more in the pipeline”.
The Chief Executive Officer CEO of Ghana Library Authority Hayford Siaw noted that the expansion drive so far, under President Akufo – Addo’s administration has been impressive.
He said the expansion of the library networks includes various strategic partnerships such as “the introduction of the digital library, the provision of access through mobile phones, the increase of books on the shelves of libraries across the country, and others.
He also mentioned a number of renovations carried out on dilapidated libraries, the availability of internet and computers, the reintroduction of mobile library services, as well as the design of many other innovative solutions and programmes”, as other steps taken which are “geared towards making Ghana a truly reading and learning nation”.
By: Nana Esi Boateng
