Ghanaian University Librarians Visit Charlottesville

Two Senior Librarians from two universities in Ghana have visited Charlottesville in the State of Virginia in the USA on an exchange program to study how the library system operates in the United States of America.

The two library officers, Miss Cynthia Henewaa Kumah, Assistant Librarian of the University of Education Winneba and Madam Gifty Boakye of the University of Ghana Balme Library, Legon, Accra, as part of the program would have the opportunity of paying working visits to the various libraries of the University of Virginia (UVA) and the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library in Charlottesville.


Madam Jane Penner of the UVA Library who welcomed the Ghana Librarians said the trip was made possible by the Center for International Studies at University of Virginia (UVA). She added that the UVA Center for International Studies hopes that the Ghanaian delegates would learn a lot about modern library functions and what is going on in the world of information studies at UVA.


On behalf of the visitors, Miss Cynthia Henewaa Kumah of the University of Education Winneba expressed their gratitude to all those who made their trip possible. She said they hope to learn a lot during their stay in Charlottesville to assist them in their work as Librarians in Ghana. Miss Kumah disclosed that through the Charlottesville-Winneba Sister City relationship, the City of Charlottesville is supporting the construction of a public library complex in Winneba to serve both students of the University of Education Winneba and members of general public in Winneba and surrounding communities. “A land has been acquired for the project, and all necessary documentation has been completed” she added.

To make their stay in Charlottesville comfortable, the Ghana Association of Charlottesville organized a special welcome party in their honour. The Chairman of the Association, Nana Akyeampong-Ghartey who is also a member of the Charlottesville-Winneba Sister City Commission welcomed the delegates and asked them to feel at home. He also used the occasion to thank the City of Charlottesville and the University of Virginia for their continued support to the people of Winneba and Ghana as a whole.





By Augustine Arthur, Charlottesville, USA