By Bright Ntramah
President Akufo-Addo has inaugurated a library in honour of the first President of the second Republic and former Chief Justice, Edward Akufo-Addo at Fafraha in Adenta.
The Edward Akufo-Addo Library is the 110th library under the Management of the Ghana Library Authority and the 49th to be established by the Akufo-Addo administration.
In a remark to officially hand over the Library for public use, the President appealed to Ghanaians to support the expansion of libraries across the country, adding that availability of libraries is an essential prerequisite to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal four.
The Governing board of the GHANA Library Authority took a decision to recognize the contribution of distinguished personalities who laid the foundation of public library development in Ghana as part of its 70th anniversary.
It is in the spirit of that decision that the Frafraha Community Library was named after former President Edward Akufo-Addo.
Mr Edward Akufo-Addo served as one of the founding board members of the Ghana Library Authority between 1950 and 1959.
He later served two terms as board chairman, the first Ghanaian to occupy that position.
The ultra-modern two story facility has a seating capacity of 250, and is stocked with more than 21 thousand books, for both adults and children and one hundred seating capacity conference Auditorium.
The imposing edifice is also equipped with 50 computers for digital training, and free WiFi for users.
The CEO of the Ghana Library Authority Hayford Siaw said more libraries are being built and that mobile libraries have been reintroduced to serve communities without libraries.
President Akufo-Addo said it is unfortunate that after 71 years of the existence of public library service in Ghana, most Ghanaians still do not have access to libraries.
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.
The President was impressed with the expansion of the library network through various strategic partnerships, such as the introduction of the digital library, the provision of access through mobile phones, and the increase of books on the shelves of libraries across the country.
He noted that renovations carried out on dilapidated libraries, availability of internet and computers, and reintroduction of mobile library services are part of steps geared towards making Ghana a reading and learning nation.
Deputy Minister of Education Rev. Ntim Fordjour lauded President Akufo-Addo for his commitment towards education, and said the Library will be maintained.
