Ghana Library Authority applauds Ho Central MP's donation, appeal for PWDs support

The Ghana Library Authority has commended the Member of Parliament for Ho Central, Honourable Edem Kpotosu, for donating copies of parliamentary Acts to the Volta Regional Library.

The donation is intended to give students, researchers and the general public easier access to legislation passed by Parliament, enabling them to stay informed about the country’s laws and governance.

The gesture has been described as progressive and people-centred, offering direct access to Ghana’s legislative documents for the first time in many years. The Volta Regional Director of Libraries, Mr Bright Ofori, made this known during brief remarks at the presentation ceremony.

Mr Ofori expressed appreciation to the MP for choosing the public library as the destination for the materials, describing the decision as timely and inclusive. He, however, appealed for additional support to ensure the documents are accessible to persons with visual and physical disabilities.

According to the Authority, public libraries remain neutral and accessible spaces for knowledge sharing, serving students, researchers and the broader community. Mr Ofori noted that the library has received increasing requests from patrons who are blind or physically challenged, raising the need for accessible formats.

He referred to the Marrakesh Treaty, which allows authorised institutions to convert copyrighted materials into accessible formats for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled without breaching copyright laws.

“The unveiling of these materials is a milestone for our Regional Library, thanks to the Honourable Member of Parliament. We're also leveraging the Marrakech Treaty to make these resources accessible to the physically challenged and blind, converting them into audio-readable formats and more.” – Mr Bright Ofori

Mr Ofori disclosed that the regional library project is still ongoing and is expected to be completed soon. He highlighted the absence of washroom facilities as a major challenge affecting the full use of the facility.

The call for accessible formats was welcomed by participants, who described it as a necessary step toward ensuring equal access to education and civic participation. They stressed that while access to legislation is important, universal access is essential in a modern democratic society.

Mr Francis Kporvi, speaking on behalf of the Municipal Director of Education, also commended the MP for making parliamentary Acts available to citizens. He observed that although parliamentary proceedings are broadcast, the actual laws passed are rarely accessible to people at the grassroots level.

Mr Kporvi appealed to the MP to make the deposit of new Acts at the library a regular practice and to include previously enacted laws to build a comprehensive reference base for students, researchers and the public.

Addressing students, he encouraged them to make good use of the materials, noting that quoting legal provisions and properly referencing Acts can enhance performance in Government examinations.

Honourable Kpotosu’s initiative has been praised as part of efforts to promote transparency, civic engagement and accountability. Stakeholders expressed hope that the move would inspire similar interventions aimed at improving access to public information.

Mr Kporvi also called for the refurbishment of the Regional Library to make it more functional and attractive, saying improved infrastructure would encourage patronage and transform the facility into a vibrant intellectual centre.

The event ended with renewed appreciation to Honourable Kpotosu and a collective call for collaboration to ensure that no segment of society is excluded from accessing national laws and public information.

Meanwhile, the MP urged the government to prioritise completion of the project and called on the media and the public to support the effort.

“The Government as the custodian of national resources, should allocate funds to complete this project. It's been ongoing for too long, and it's unacceptable for a country like ours. We need to work together to make it accessible and user-friendly, so everyone can benefit from it and contribute to our constituency's and nation's development.”

“Using the media to raise awareness is key. By sharing this initiative widely, those in power will take notice and act. The media is a powerful tool – if we push hard enough, we could see progress by the end of the month. What's left to be done is less than 20%, so let's make it happen,” Hon. Kpotosu.