Ghana @60; 60 Libraries Does It Make Sense?

The e-library project which was launched as part of the programmes of Ghana’s 60^th anniversary celebrations, aims at improving reading and learning among children and young people in rural areas. The names of the 60 deprived communities will be announced later by the committee. (Ghanaweb.com)

According to the committee, every region will have six libraries. The libraries will be in three categories – Mobile Libraries, Block Libraries and Container Libraries. (Starrfmonline.com)

At first sight, it is heartwarming to see a government who believes in liberation that comes from having a people who will love to read and read. However, upon further questioning the truth of undertaking projects in this country to score political points never seizes to amaze people like me. In listening to people and reading news articles it became clear that this was another knee-jerk reaction to the status of our libraries in Ghana.

I stand to be corrected but where the hell is the Ghana Library Authority (GL Board; formerly known) in all of this? If every region is to receive six libraries each, in whatever shape and form, could someone help us with a clear picture of what I term as the ruins of our libraries in this country? Watch this, isn’t these people at the helm of affairs major beneficiaries of libraries 20-30 years ago?

What happened to the Ghana Library Board?
What is the state of our regional and district libraries?

How come it seems the GLA is relegated to the back in establishing these would-be libraries?

Isn’t it possible to bring the existing ones back to life and merge them with the e-learning abilities as we establish new ones?

Why will anyone want to setup e-learning libraries in deprived areas when those in non-deprived areas are not even catered for? How long will they last then?

What, why, ho, where…maybe am thinking too much but it makes no sense to me right now.

You may have your doubts about my position. Check this list and reconsider; the Sunyani Children’s Library, Takoradi Library, Bibiani Library, Kumasi Library and any other you can find. Why do I feel like our leaders don’t want to look back at the damage they’ve done to the country on their trails to where they are now?

If in the presence of all the ruins of libraries across the country which are not tourist sites like the castles and forts, we deem it fit to please ourselves with the idea of putting up and riding around libraries on the basis of having the letter “e”, then I still ask a simple question; Does It Make Sense?

Thanks for reading.
God Bless Ghana!