The Member of Parliament for Manhyia-South, Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh on Sunday together with the Queen of Asante, Nana Konadu Yiadom and officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Library Authority (GLA), commissioned a one storey modern library for the people of Manhyia.
The facility named after the late Queen of Asante, Nana AFIA Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, has space for 200 people at a time and currently has about 1000 books and 36 computers to serve patrons including pupils and adults alike.
Addressing participants before the official unveiling event, Dr Opoku-Prempeh affectionately called ‘Napo’ disclosed that the construction and furnishing of the library was made possible through the support of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) his share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Dr Napo said the decision for the construction of the Library predates his coming to office as Education Minister since he had from his formative years realized that education was the best pivot on which human development could best revolve around.
‘’I recall with nostalgia my formative years as a child in Ashtown how the spirit of reading was imbibed in me by my parents, uncles and grandparents and was made to believe that it is through reading that I would be able to reason well, become analytical, stimulate memories and broaden my horizon’’, Napo recalled.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LIBRARY AUTHORITY:
Hayfor Siaw, Executive Director for the Ghana Library Authority (GLA) commended the Manhyia South legislator for the initiative.
He also disclosed that Dr Napo during his tenure as Education Minister invested into 55 libraries across the country.
Currently, he mentioned that the Ghana Library Authority has 111 libraries scattered across the country, but asked for support from Corporate Ghana and MPs across the country to emulate the gesture of the Energy Minister and build for the same for the communities in their constituencies.
‘’I will entreat corporate organizations and people with influence like Dr Napo to partner the Ghana Library Authority to build some of these library facilities for the communities which are without them so that we can get our brothers and sisters to learn and research on their own’’, the Executive Director posited.
UNVEILING:
Walking majestically to the edifice named after her mum, the Queen of Asante, Nana Konadu showed excitement upon seeing pupils from some selected schools learning at the commissioned library.
Gesturing at the pupils, the Queen urged them to take advantage of the facility and study hard to become useful persons in future.
PUPILS:
Theresa Ababio, JHS two pupil of St Annes Anglican JHS beaming with smiles while using the computer at the library said she was grateful to God and to Dr Napo for the opportunity to learn at such a facility.
Mark Agyeman, a class 1 pupil from Dichemso MA JHS holding his book, told this reporter that he was happy the MP had him and his mates in mind.
STORY BY MICHAEL OFOSU-AFRIYIE, KUMASI