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| Reg Rep of GLA, Ms Joana Pwadura |
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| Regional Librarian, John Ayeseba (Middle) |
The launch of the first ever
library and information week celebration is underway in Bolgatanga, the Upper
East Regional capital. The nationwide event which is being held simultaneously
in all the regional capitals and spearheaded by the Ghana Library Association
(GLA) is celebrated on the theme: ‘Information Literacy and Public Libraries’.
The weeklong celebration seeks to showcase the invaluable contribution of
libraries in broadening ones scope of knowledge. It will be climaxed with
series of activities including a three day reading clinic for selected school
pupils. The initiative also sought to create greater awareness on improving reading
habits of basic school pupil and promote information literacy among adults as
well. At the regional level, the event will be marked with radio and television
programmes to create the needed awareness on the importance of libraries and
reading in the Ghanaian society. At the launching ceremony attended by over 300
pupils drawn from various basic schools including stakeholders in the
educational sector, the Regional Representative of the GLA, Ms Joana Pwadura,
said aside the main theme chosen for the celebration, several themes have emerged
to highlight the pivotal role of libraries in Ghana's education and
development. The said themes, she explained, hopes to draw the attention of
community leaders and decision makers the need to support the existing
libraries to enable them play their mandated role. This way, libraries would be
empowered enough to surmount its deficiencies and adapt to the ever changing
societal values and technological development. The ultimate goal of the
information literacy, she however added, would promote reliable access to
information taking into consideration its legal and social effects binding the
use of such information. According to her, available statistics put Ghana’s
illiteracy rate to 43.3 percent, an indication that majority of Ghanaians
particularly the rural folks were incapable of reading and writing. Ms Pwadura
therefore called for concerted effort by way of policy intervention to
eradicate and reduce illiteracy to its barest minimum. The Regional Librarian,
John Ayeseba, for his part appealed to government through the regional minister
to exempt the organization from the prepaid meter system since it was affecting
their operations. In a speech read for him by his deputy, the
Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed Muniru, underscored the need for
public libraries to be resourced and emphasized governments commitment to
upgrade, equip and rehabilitate the existing ones with computers and other
modern facilities to meet the growing changes in the world of information.
Participating students and dignitaries were later exposed to a photo exhibition,
which showcase the activities and services of the GLA over the years.
GBC END
IA/
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