The Ghana Library Authority (GhLA), an agency of the Ministry of Education, has signed a partnership collaboration with Book Aid International to support public schools and special libraries.

The partnership will see the GhLA receive Books of commercial value of over £500,000 per year, unprecedented in recent years of the agency.

This will complement other government investments in book acquisition to resource libraries in the country. 

The agency currently has only 531,865 books on its shelves, a drop in the 1,006,720 books it had on its shelves in 1980. 

The signing of the partnership is as a result of series of meetings between Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Hayford Siaw and the Chief Executive of Book Aid International, Alison Tweed.

Mr.Siaw, in April 2018, reached out to Book Aid International in a bid to negotiate a restoration of a broken partnership of more than two decades with Ghana. 

This was followed by a visit to London to meet with the Book Aid team. Alison Tweed paid a reciprocal visit to Ghana in July 2018 to assess the state of the Ghana library. 

The two Executives agreed on the need to revive libraries in Ghana through making available, new and appropriate materials that meet the aspirations of library users in Ghana. 

Mr. Siaw explains that past policies, as well as inertia on the part of the GhLA, have all contributed to the stagnation of growth at GhLA. 

He was happy to note, however, that President Nana AKufo-Addo, as well as the Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, are all personalities who deeply cherish and have the development of libraries in their immediate priorities.

"Fortunately for the GhLA, our current President has an astounding interest in Education, and he is committed to ensuring quality learning environments for everyone, especially children, hence the renewed commitment to strengthen the public library system to deliver on its mandate,” Mr. Siaw, affirmed.

He added that: ‘’In the past few months, GhLA has created the largest book Processing Unit for any public library system in West Africa. We have established a new Acquisition and Distribution Unit, all in a bid to support the transformation of libraries in Ghana."

On her part, Alison Tweed stated: “Book Aid International is proud to be partnering with the Ghana Library Authority as it works to become once more a first class service to the general public.”

“We urge all those who want to read for pleasure or to improve their life chances to use their local libraries, where they will soon find brand new up to date books on all subjects donated by Book Aid International,” she urged.

She also commended the GhLA boss, his team and the Ministry of Education “for this renewed commitment to the importance of libraries for national development”.

About the Ghana Library Authority

The Ghana Library Authority, formerly Ghana Library Board, is the only institution mandated to establish, equip, manage and maintain public libraries in Ghana. As part of its work, it also prepares guidelines for the establishment of public, community and school libraries. It maintains a network of 60 libraries across all 10 regions.

It was established in 1950 from a £1,000 contribution donated by the late Rt. Rev. John Orfeur Aglionby, the then Anglican Bishop of Accra.

About Book Aid International

Book Aid International is the UK registered charity which provides books and supports libraries in Africa and around the world.

Book Aid International is supported by many publishers who donate books to the charity which Book Aid International then sends onto libraries overseas.

The charity only donates new books. His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh is the charity’s patron. Rt Hon. Lord Boateng is the charity’s Chair. In 2016, Book Aid International sent 1,032,610 to 3,583 libraries in 14 countries.