Community library reduced to a 'white elephant'

A community library built at Juaso in the Asante-Akim South District to encourage people to adopt the reading habit to broaden their outlook has virtually been reduced to a “white elephant” due to poor patronage.

Less than 10 people are said to visit the facility every week.

The project was funded by former Member of Parliament for the area, Mrs Gifty Ohene Konadu, from her share of the District Assemblies Common Fund.

It was inaugurated in 2011 and managed by the District Education Directorate.

The Acting Librarian, Mr Isaac Ofori, told Ghana News Agency (GNA) that at times, for three days running, the facility records zero visits.

He described the situation as deeply disturbing considering the fact that there are more than 20 schools in the community.

Added to this is there is a large number of senior high school (SHS) leavers, preparing to re-write the West Africa Senior Schools Certificate Examination, to try to better previous grades, in order to satisfy the admission requirement of tertiary institutions.

Reporters of the nation’s wire service-GNA were briefed on the issued when they visited the area under STAR-Ghana’s sponsored media auditing and tracking of development projects, an initiative launched to put the spotlight on how government’s resources are helping to transform the lives of the people, particularly the rural population.

The goal is to aid transparency, promote accountability and good local governance.

Mr Ofori said the irony is that many of the schools in the town, with the exception of Juaso SHS, do not have libraries.

“Things would have to change to help the facility to serve the intended purpose,” he said.

He noted that people go to the library not only to read books stocked in the shelves but to also study on their own in a serene atmosphere.