Libraries in Ghana
- Jenna
- Mar 23, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 30, 2019
During our travels in Ghana, a few libraries and mobile libraries caught my attention.
As President of the Ghana Library Association, Dr. Perpetua Dadzie said, "reading is the key to unlocking one's imagination power."(1)
I completely agree; reading is a tool of empowerment. As an employee of a public library in the states, I was really interested in what access to literature looks like in Ghana.
Here are the few examples I noticed while traveling in Ghana of libraries and mobile library vehicles. Happy reading!
These two images (top and bottom) are of a van seen in Cape Coast, Ghana.
The John Evans Atta Mills Presidential Library in Cape Coast, Ghana
Seeing these two physical library buildings and the handful of mobile library trucks has me wondering about access to literature in Ghana as well as cultural representation within that literature.
Of the novels children and adults have access to, can individuals relate?
Do the characters look like, fit in with or represent Ghanaian culture?
These are questions we ask within the public library system within the States as well. I personally believe there should be representation for everyone within literature.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi says it best in her TedTalk, The danger of a single story:
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
The following is information regarding access to literature and libraries in Ghana, as I attempt to answer these questions. I have not uncovered all of the answers to these questions, but it is a beginning point to better understand library structures and the education system in Ghana. I am still quite interested in the matter, and the more I attempt to answer, the more questions I seem to have.
Access to literature in Ghana is provided by The Ghana Library Authority as well as multiple non-government organizations. The Ghana Library Authority has a total of 60 branches throughout Ghana, including 10 Regional Libraries and 50 Branches, with a total collection of nearly 2 million books. The Ghana Library Authority is supported through membership, and offers multiple programs to their patrons. One of these programs is the Mobile Library Service (MLS) which serves rural areas through the distribution of books and computers.(1,2)
In addition to the Ghana Library Authority, there are non-profit organizations that support libraries and operate mobile libraries in an effort to increase access to literature. One example of such an organization is the Canadian Organization for Development through Education (CODE), a non-governmental organization from Canada that supports libraries, offers professional development to teachers and provides books to communities to support literacy and learning for children. Additionally, CODE works with local authors, illustrators and publishers to supply young readers with relatable books.(3) In Ghana, CODE works with the Ghana Book Trust which supplies books in both English and Twi, the predominant local language. According to the Ghana Book Trust, two in five Ghanaian adults cannot read nor write. Multiple programs initiated by CODE support the goal of increasing literacy through access to literature, one of which is the BURT awards which distinguishes excellence in young adult fiction from the nations of Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya and recently in the Caribbean and Canada in an effort to promote relevant, quality books. The main tenets of CODE that is implemented throughout their programs and by the Ghana Book Trust is Reading CODE, which highlights the importance of providing interesting books and ensuring they are presented in written languages understandable and relevant to the community. The focus of Reading CODE is to foster long-term sustainability and interest in literature. CODE supports 18 school libraries throughout Ghana and impacted 2,056 students in the year 2017-2018. CODE is additionally in partnership with the mining firm Asanko Gold. (3,4,5)
One of the challenges highlighted by the Ghana Library Association is the lack of electricity and internet services within communities, limiting the usability of the computers delivered through mobile library services. Overall, access to literature is a priority of the Ghanaian people and there are multiple organizations collaborating to promote reading and learning. (6)
The organizations listed above are just a few examples of organizations I have come across that work to increase access to literature throughout Ghana. I appreciate the Ghana Book Trust's web page as it highlights books that reflect the people of Ghana - not all of the books are of obruni's (people with light skin) - which unfortunately is what I have seen displayed on the Ghana Library Authority's website (where all of the novels have white people on them).
In the United States, representation in literature is something we are working towards and at this point, could benefit from more of. Representation matters!
Thank you for taking the time to think about access to literature and the stories cultures are exposed to, both within the United States and abroad. I think it is an interesting question and one of great importance, as I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to have access to knowledge within an accessible and relatable manner.
Further Resources:
(discusses public libraries in Ghana, including the history of public libraries)
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