As we reported in our March 2021 News Update (http://ghanatogether.blogspot.com) , we are supporting Axim and the Ghana National Library Authority’s efforts to at last create a purpose-built library in Axim.
Yes, we were a little skeptical back in 2019, when the leadership of Western Heritage Home, our partner in Ghana, made the formal request for help. After all, our philosophy is basically to hear them out on their ideas for potential projects, ask tons of questions, and if it seems to make sense, either because of lack of financial resources or expertise, offer help, but plan carefully!
Well, part of that process was James Kainyiah,
Chairman of Western Heritage Home, and Ghana Together President Maryanne Ward
having a 3-hour meeting in Accra in late 2018 with Hayford Siaw, Head of the
Ghana National Library Authority (a department of their Ghana Education Service), and Mercy Ackah, Western Region Libraries Deputy
Director. We were convinced by that meeting that public libraries, along with
tuition-free public education through senior high school, were tops on Ghana’s agenda to support literacy country-wide, and that the Axim Library would get
support going forward.
Maryanne had traveled to Ghana 14 times, and had experienced
first-hand the low literacy among adult Ghanaians, especially women, On that 2018 trip, she visited 17 schools
receiving books from the Axim Public Library’s mobile library service in lieu
of libraries in their schools---a service made possible by Ghana Together’s
many generous investors! She met with teachers, heard the children read aloud in
unison (each from their own separate book) to show off their skills (!), and
saw how the schools valued the service.
BUT, all this was being managed from a very confined
space on the top floor of a community building built by the Peace Corps in its
earliest years---and with a lousy staircase to boot---try carrying large boxes
of books up and down…you get the picture! To develop true public library services, a
purpose-built facility was badly needed.
So, Chairman James, ever-resourceful, developed an
architectural plan and started working with community leaders. The Methodist
Church---long a strong source of educational efforts in the community---donated
land right in the downtown area, within easy walking distance of five schools
and much of the residential area. The Upper Axim Chief poured a libation to
bless the project, and honor the ancestors who had used that land for
centuries. The “CodeLibrary” group of supportive elders was founded to foster
community support.
We of Ghana Together started to work on funding for
this new project (in addition to continuing the scholarships/school-cost
projects already in the works). If not for Covid, we’d have visited at least
once in late 2020 to review progress. Thanks to the internet, we communicate on
almost a daily basis with leadership in Axim on the project. And as of June
2021, we are now about two-thirds done with the project, slowed but continuing
in spite of Covid-19.
And then, on June 3, 2021, out of the blue (!), came
the announcement that the Ghana Library Authority, the institution mandated by
law to establish, equip, maintain and manage public libraries in Ghana, has
emerged as the winner of the "International Library of the Year" by the London Book Fair (LBF)
International Excellence Awards 2021! WOW!!! This award is a big deal, and
served to verify our modest efforts to help Ghana in its drive to develop
public libraries in every part of the country.
So, thanks for reading this far! You can see how this
is coming to fruition. The local community, thanks to the efforts of the
CodeLibrary group and local leaders, will take on the responsibility to
furnish the new library upon completion of the building. The Axim Municipal
Assembly (like our city councils), will own the building going forward, manage
it, provide electrical services, etc. The Ghana Library Authority, under the
national Department of Education, will continue to fund programs, staff, and
resources as they do in all public libraries. Local folks, led by the
CodeLibrary elders, will voluntarily move the books, shelving, etc. from the
old library to the new one, clean up the site, help to get everything in
working order, and provide a supportive community group going forward.
We of Ghana Together, for our part, have committed to finishing the building, hopefully by the end of 2021. If you can help, we’d appreciate it a lot! Anything in excess of what is needed for the library will be put to use on scholarships or other educational efforts.
We estimate we
need about $25,000 US to completely finish it.
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