The Acting Director of the Ghana Library Authority (GLA), Dr Alhassan Ziblim Betintiche, has called on stakeholders, including district assemblies, corporate organisations and international partners, to collaborate with the authority in its drive to extend quality library services to underserved communities across the country.
Speaking on the authority’s progress one year into its transformation agenda, Dr Betintiche outlined a range of ongoing partnerships and projects aimed at expanding access to library facilities, while addressing the significant digital divide that leaves many children without access to reliable information resources at home.
Dr Betintiche explained that many families cannot afford smartphones or internet access, relying instead on basic analog phones that offer no capacity for research or information searches.
He said this reality makes the library the only reliable space where every child in a community can access sophisticated textbooks and dictionaries, regardless of their household’s economic circumstances.
He said the authority’s research agenda is focused on ensuring libraries maintain their credibility while delivering services in a fundamentally different way that benefits both children and adults.
Dr Betintiche disclosed that the GLA has, over the past decade, maintained partnerships with international organisations including UNICEF, which continue to recognise and support the need for competent, friendly and up-to-date library facilities for patrons, including those in remote local communities.
Five-Year Strategic Plan For District Coverage
He said one notable collaboration involves the construction of school libraries, with one project completed in Accra over the past two years, while others remain at various stages of completion.
Looking ahead, Dr Betintiche said the authority intends to deepen partnerships with district assemblies to extend library services to the more than 150 districts across the country currently without any public library facility.
“We have a strategic plan to be able to have our presence in each of those districts in the next five years, if we have the right support, resources and motivation.”
Dr Betintiche
He stressed that achieving this target would require strong backing from government and other stakeholders who recognise the transformative power libraries hold for community development.
Growing Local Corporate Support
On improving existing libraries, Dr Betintiche pointed to encouraging local corporate interest, citing positive engagement from the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Chief Executive Officer of GCB Bank.
He also disclosed that a telecommunications company has indicated readiness to partner with the authority to establish the first functioning library in the North East Region, a region currently without any operational library facility.
Dr Betintiche further revealed that a lawyer associated with the Ghana Gold Board has indicated willingness to support the renovation of the Greater Accra Central Library, the oldest library in Ghana, which has fallen into disrepair over the years.
“We are very confident that within the year, you will see a completely different environment at the Greater Accra Central Library.”
Dr Betintiche
On ongoing infrastructure projects, Dr Betintiche commended the Sector Minister for leading efforts to restart work on two major library projects in Sunyani and Wa, describing them as legacy projects that had been abandoned under a previous administration. He confirmed that, with ministerial support, construction has resumed at both sites, with completion targeted within the next year.
Model Library and Regional Expansion
Dr Betintiche also disclosed plans for a model children’s library at the airport in Accra, describing it as an innovative and distinctly different approach from conventional library spaces. He extended an invitation for interested stakeholders to visit and observe the facility’s design and operations.
He said similar model libraries are planned for Ghana’s middle belt, serving the Ashanti, Bono, Bono East and parts of Savannah regions, as well as for Tamale, which would serve the Upper East, Upper West, parts of Savannah and the North East regions.
Dr Betintiche emphasised that the sector minister has charged the GLA Board to pursue these major regional library projects, while acknowledging that government alone cannot finance the full scope of the authority’s ambitions.
He reiterated the authority’s openness to further collaboration and partnership, inviting corporate organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to join in expanding access to quality library services across Ghana’s underserved districts and regions.
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