Different types of libraries are at various stages of development as some are doing well while others are struggling. There are academic libraries (tertiary), public and community libraries (in regions, districts, communities, etc.), school libraries (pre-tertiary to kindergarten), and special libraries (in departments, institutions, etc.).
Ghana does not have a national library. Some roles of national library are performed by some special libraries.
Public libraries operate in a centralized system and are mainly located in regional and some district capitals. They are under the Ghana Library Authority which covers some community libraries.
The Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH) provides training and sharing of electronic resources to and among academic libraries, but each academic library operates on their own under their respective parent institutions.
The Ministry of Education is the authority responsible for public and community libraries and libraries in general. The Public library is considered as an agency under the Ministry. Libraries are funded mainly from their parent institution, be it government, individual, or institution etc.
The main objectives of the Ghana Library Association are to be the voice of librarians and to champion their professional development, development of standards and welfare.
Broad concerns of the library field are the lack of a national library, absence of a professional legal government body (i.e. council or commission for libraries) to regulate the profession, and the proper recognition of libraries.
One of the achievements is the establishment of the Library and Information Week (LIW), which is observed annually since 2013. The last week in September is used to highlight issues in libraries, the profession and to carry out literacy activities in public basic schools in the form of reading clinics, quizzes, fun games, visits to school libraries to offer professional support etc.
21 | 124.0 |
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Median Age | Population Densitypeople per sq km |
No Data Available | No Data Available |
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Internet Users | Internet Gender Gap |
12% | 6.8% |
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Poverty Rate 2011 PPP | Unemployment % of labor force |
No Data Available | 6.2% |
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Adult Literacy Rate % of people age 15+ | Education Spending % of GDP |
No Data Available | No Data Available |
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ICT Skills: Transfering Files | Research Spending % of GDP |
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National Library Associations
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National Library
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Policy Making Institutions
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Library Support Organisations
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National Policy for Libraries
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Library Law
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Legal Deposit Law
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Copyright Law
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Library Exceptions & Limitations
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Professional Qualification Requirements
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Education
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Professional Publications
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Professional Events
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Total | National | Academic | Public | Community | School | Other | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Libraries |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Libraries with Internet Access |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Full-Time Staff |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Volunteers |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Registered User |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Physical Visits |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Physical Loans |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Electronic Loans |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Population | Ghana | Region | World |
Population Density people per sq km | 124 2016 | 43.7 2016 | 57.4 2016 |
Urban Population (World Bank) | 54.7% 2016 | 38.3% 2016 | 54.3% 2016 |
Median Age (CIA) | 21 2017 | - | 30 2017 |
Age Dependency Ratio, Youth (World Bank) % of working age people | 66.3% 2017 | 78.7% 2017 | 39.7% 2017 |
Age Dependency Ratio, Elderly (ITU World Telecoms Database) % of working age people | 5.8% 2017 | 5.7% 2017 | 13.3% 2017 |
Information Infrastructure | Ghana | Region | World |
Internet Users % of population | - | - | - |
Broadband Cost (ITU World Telecoms Database) in USD | $23.4 2016 | $25.3 2016 | $20.1 2016 |
Phone Subscription Cost (ITU World Telecoms Database) in USD | $3 2016 | $7.8 2016 | $9.5 2016 |
Internet Gender Gap (ITU World Telecoms Database) % of Men Internet Users - % of Women Internet Users | - | - | 11.6% 2017 |
Access to Electricity (World Bank) | 79.3% 2016 | 42.8% 2016 | 87.4% 2016 |
Economy, Poverty, and Employment | Ghana | Region | World |
GDP per Capita (World Bank) current international $ | 4,292 2016 | 3,724 2016 | 16,215 2016 |
Poverty Rate (World Bank) at $1.90 a Day, 2011 PPP | 12% 2012 | 42.3% 2013 | 10.9% 2013 |
Inequality Index 0 is perfect equality, 100 is the complete inequality | - | - | - |
Unemployment (World Bank) % of labor force | 6.8% 2015 | - | 5.9% 2014 |
Inactive Youth (World Bank) % of youth | 25.5% 2015 | - | - |
Education and Literacy | Ghana | Region | World |
Students per Teacher (World Bank) Ratio | 27 2017 | 38 2016 | 24 2016 |
Adult Literacy Rate (World Bank) % of people age 15+ | - | 64.4% 2016 | 86.2% 2016 |
Education Spending (World Bank) % of GDP | 6.2% 2014 | 4.5% 2013 | 4.9% 2014 |
Innovation and Skills | Ghana | Region | World |
Research Spending (World Bank) % of GDP | - | - | 2.2% 2015 |
ICT Skills: Programming % of Population | - | - | - |
ICT Skills: Creating Presentations % of Population | - | - | - |
ICT Skills: Finding, Downloading, Installing Software % of Population | - | - | - |
ICT Skills: Transferring Files % of Population | - | - | - |
ICT Skills: Sending Emails % of Population | - | - | - |
ICT Skills: Using Copy/Paste % of Population | - | - | - |
ICT Skills: Connect/Install Devices % of Population | - | - | - |
ICT Skills: Using Math in Spreadsheets % of Population | - | - | - |
Fields of interest covers every area of the library profession. The goal is to be the official voice of the profession. The objective is to unify librarians and information professionals, seeking their professional development and welfare and ensuring the maintenance of standards and ethics. There are over 500 members. Broad areas of concerns are lack of a national library, commission on libraries, strong united library front and recognition.
There is no national library in Ghana.
The Ministry of Education is responsible for all policies on education, including apprenticeships and wider skills acquisition in Ghana. MoE work to provide education that ensure opportunity is equal for all, no matter what their background or family circumstances. It is headed by a Minister with two deputies, a Minister of State.
The Ghana Library Authority exists to provide a comprehensive and accessible public library service to promote lifelong reading habits among the populace with the objective of ensuring the development of the individual’s social and intellectual capabilities and the creation of a well-informed society for national development.
AfLIA is an independent international not-for-profit organization which pursues the interests of library and information associations, library and information services, librarians and information workers and the communities they serve in Africa. It was established in 2013 and registered as an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) under the laws of Ghana in October 2014. AfLIA is the trusted voice of the African library and information community in Africa's development.
Biblionef Ghana is a non - profit organisation that donates new storybooks to institutions/organisations that offer services to less privileged children, thus supporting literacy in the provision of reading materials in mainly deprieve communities.
The Goethe-Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural institute, active worldwide. The Goethe-Institute library works in partnership with other libraries and professional associations in this country and abroad to promote professional dialogue and exchanges. In Ghana, the Goethe-Institut works together with Ghana Library Board to organise conferences.
The CARLIGH was founded in 2004 to provide access to online resources and training for members. University libraries, polytechnic libraries, college of education libraries, research libraries, special libraries, and other consortia are eligible to become members of CARLIGH. Currently there are 40 member institutions.
There are no national policy documents for libraries in Ghana.
This law covers establishment and operations of public libraries. The Act was issued in 1970 (ACT 327).
Seven copies of each publication (book, newspaper etc.) must be deposited at the Register General's office including six libraries, which provide access to deposited materials to users.
Libraries are allowed to do basic activities provided it is not for profit and it is for scholarship, studies etc. Libraries do not need to pay for other uses of works. The Law takes into account digital materials and their uses. The Law does not specify printing for people with print disabilities. There is currently a move by the Copyright office together with other stakeholders like the Blind Union for a reform to accommondate print disabilities.
The minimum starting point for librarians is a post-garduate diploma or Masters degree. This can be by Master of Philosophy, which is an advantage, or Master of Arts in Library or Information Studies. The middle level staff is usually a diploma or first degree in library or information studies.
The Department of Information Studies (formerly Department of Library and Archival Studies) of University of Ghana was the sole formal institution training librarians and archivist at the post graduate level and beyond. From about 2010 it has started offering first degree programmes. Other universities since then also have started training applicants for the Diploma, First Degree, Masters (M.A. and M.Phil. and Ph.D levels). Some are by the normal regular attendance as others are by sandwish and others distance. Some of the main institutions are University of Ghana, University of Ghana - Distance Education, Kumasi Technical University, Ho Technical University.
The Ghana Library Journal focuses on the practice and research in librarianship especially in Ghana and generally in Africa. It also considers articles relating to Information Technology and Archival Admistration. It is published once a year with a Special publication every other year.
This national event was started in the year 2013 and it is a yearly one week event in the month of September. It is usually celebrated as a national event in a region and other libraries also celebrate the week alone side. The main goal is to highlight a topical need in the country as well as drawing attention to libraries and librarians. There are talk shows on radio and television, there is a national launch with speech by the President of the Association and the rest of the days used to engage school pupils and students in reading activities.
The event takes place every year in a selected region for a day. It usually rotates among the 10 regions. The main goal is to give account of activities for the year by the elected executives headed by the President to members. During the period professional and academic papers are presented by some members on the theme for the meeting. The papers are discussed and later published in the Ghana Library Journal.
This event takes place every other year in a selected region for two days. It usually rotates among the 10 regions. The main goal is to give account of activities for the year by the elected executives headed by the President to members and to re-elect or elect a new Council for a tenure of two years. During the period professional and academic papers are presented by some members on the theme for the meeting. The papers are discussed and later published in the Ghana Library Journal.