E-Ananse library initiative launched to revitalise Ghana's reading culture

The e-Ananse Library initiative, a bold new concept by world class IT organization, West Blue Consulting, has been officially launched in a ceremony held in Legon that saw wide participation from people from all walks of life.

The e-Ananse libraries are to help revitalize Ghana’s reading culture and provide people with the tools to compete in the 21st Century by giving them access to high-quality contemporary literature, state-of-the-art computing facilities, and world-class literary events while maintaining the Ghanaian storytelling heritage.

The Chief Executive Officer of West Blue Consulting, Mark Addo, in an address on behalf of the company’s founder, Valentina Mintah, who conceived this library concept, said, the e-Ananse project should be viewed beyond just another corporate social activity but instead a necessity that has been long overdue.

“This isn’t just social responsible. It is necessary to ensure Ghana’s success as a nation and our own as a company that thrives on Ghanaian innovation. Excellence is in everybody’s interest. This dedication to fostering it is what makes the e-Ananse an exceptional addition to the Westblue portfolio.”

She said, she was committed to ensure the e-Ananse concept embodies the fundamentals of cultural heritage as well as innovation to equip Ghanaians to compete globally.

George Andah, Deputy Minister of Communications, said the e-Ananse initiative aligns with his outfit’s commitment to use information technology for national development.

“At the Ministry of Communications, our interest in and support of the e-Ananse library initiative on its usage concept of bringing together the three strands of what our mandate is: information, communications and technology”, he asserted.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adwutwum called for e-Ananse to reach out to more deprived areas in the country to transform lives of people who are typically not exposed to such privileges for a more holistic social development.

“This is a nice initiative but I’d like to encourage you to reach out to the Zongo communities and the inner cities”, he urged.

West Blue has for the past month brought to the doorstep of the Ghanaian, a glimpse of what the e-Ananse libraries seek to do for the country, by the organization of some interactive events.

Much recently, the e-Ananse organized a storytelling event for street children of Makola to provide some education and entertainment to the deprived children.

According to the Project Consultant, Sylvia Arthur, plans to expand the e-Ananse libraries across the country are underway.

She revealed that a wide range of engaging events would be organized several periods of every month and urged the Ghanaian youth to associate themselves strongly with such a laudable initiative.

“The idea is to encourage people to use both libraries. So, you may come to Legon to read professional and personal development books but you would go to Osu to read poetry”, she added.

E-Ananse currently has two cutting edge library facilities in Osu, and Legon and to become a member, an adult would have to register with only 20 Ghana Cedis and 10 Ghana Cedis for children, and this covers the entire year.