Libation Is Poured! New Library Is Launched!

But...first... the "elders" had to meet and decide whether or not the idea of a new purpose-built library in Axim makes good sense! Thank you!

And then...the official paperwork! 

Here we see Madame Mercy Ackah, former Librarian in Axim and now Regional Library Director, along with Mr. Isaac Bentil, an official Axim "elder" and church leader. Between them, they represented the Ghana Library Authority, the land owner, the Methodist Church, and the Axim community. They are officially signing the paperwork, transferring the  land title and the old Methodist Church building to the Ghana National Library Authority. 

Mercy Ackah and Isaac Bentil sign land and building transfer

But, although official signatures are required for land, that's not quite the final act! We are grateful to the Chief of Upper Axim. This land is traditionally his "tribal" land. And so, he came to pour a libation on the land, honoring the centuries of ancestors who had used that very land for so many purposes.

He poured a bit of "spirits" on this very land, asking all those who have gone before to bless this new enterprise for their "children" of today. And by doing so, he also signified to the whole community of Axim that, in his official role as traditional leader of his people, he has declared the land is now dedicated to a new purpose-built library for the whole community. Wow!
  

The traditional chief pours a libation, with Library staff, community leaders, and Western Heritage Home Chairman James Kainyiah (far right) serving as witnesses

So, now that the paperwork is in place and the libation has been poured, we know FOR SURE that the new Axim Library building project is officially launched!

The land for the new Axim Public Library has been acquired! Right in the middle of downtown! Very near 4 primary schools, with literally several hundred kids within walking distance. Perfect!

But...there is a very old, unused, and, given the earthquake potential in this area, unsafe building owned by the Methodist Church on the land. So, thank you (!) Methodist Church for generously handing over the old building to the Ghana Library Authority for a very modest sum, and adding their own "blessing" to the project. 

 

And so the teardown and site preparation began as of a couple of weeks ago!

Mercy Ackah, James Kainyiah, one of the elders, Library staffer Gaddiel, and Assembly member Mr. Afull oversee the demolition

We are grateful to the local neighbors who are supporting the project in spite of the disruptions caused by the noise, dust, machinery, etc. We especially thank the woman in this picture (center background), whose highly-decorated "cooking station" will have to be removed in order to make way for the machinery. It will be replaced. She supports the library because she herself has young children and she wants them to have this resource.

As we write this article, we can report good progress is being made. Here are pictures from earlier this week.

As our readers are well aware, we of Ghana Together have been working with Western Heritage Home on public library projects for about ten years now. 

---shipped about 18,000 children's books and bought many there

---installed three dozen or so One Laptop per Child computers and a half dozen adult type

--outfitted a children's room with benches, tables, etc.

 ---helped WHH procure a large "tricycle" to serve as a mobile library that now serves 17 schools. 

---have about 30-40 newly refurbished computers waiting to outfit a new computer lab in the new library when it opens, thanks to Legacy SHS in Marysville, Washington

...And more...

SO...this project to build a new library is a continuation of many years of effort. 

We are inspired by the Ghana National Library Authority, a national level governmental department that owns, staffs, and supervises public libraries in Ghana, with support from locally-elected District Assemblies. 

Leaders like Madame Ackah, her superior the GHLA Director Hayford Siaw, and the local leaders pictured here are mounting an all-out campaign to put Ghana's public libraries in the forefront. 

Ghana now has tuition-free education, K-12---quite a miracle in itself, which we have personally experienced on our visits, culminating in senior high about 3-4 years ago. They see public libraries as undergirding that effort, providing early learning for pre-school level, continuing education and educational resources for all students, and finally offering lifelong learning for everyone including grandmas and grandpas reading for themselves and their families.

We in America are so familiar with public library services, that we sometimes forget how blessed we are!

And yes, we know the traditional "giving" season is over, and we are totally grateful to our "investors" but...yes! we could use some extra help to put this very special, one-time "legacy project" over the top!

http://ghanatogether.org/HTML/Donations.html

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  Website: http://ghanatogether.org

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