The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has tasked the newly inaugurated Governing Board of the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) to spearhead the construction of presidential libraries in honour of all past Presidents of the Republic.

Mr. Iddrisu expressed concern about the lack of adequate information resources on former presidents, noting that this initiative would be a significant step toward preserving Ghana’s national memory and promoting public knowledge of the country’s democratic journey.

The Minister made the remarks when he inaugurated the Governing Board of the Ghana Library Authority, chaired by Dr. Michael Ato Essuman, in Accra on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

“In the next few days or months, I will seek a review of the Ghana Library Board Act of 1970, which will allow for the creation of a book fund and, more importantly, management of presidential libraries. This will not be funded by the state. I expect the private sector and the corporate world to work with you”, he said

The Minister charged the members to reimagine and modernise Ghana’s public library system to reflect the demands of a rapidly evolving, knowledge-driven society. He encouraged the Council to initiate public-private partnerships to establish libraries in rural communities and expand the scope to cover the Free Senior High Schools.

Mr. Iddrisu also emphasised the crucial role of libraries in advancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, particularly as the country prepares its human capital for the opportunities and challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Minister urged the board to also lead national efforts in fostering a renewed culture of reading, particularly among the youth, and to promote digital literacy across the country. He noted that libraries must move beyond their traditional functions and become innovative, technology-enabled learning spaces that support lifelong learning and inclusive development.

“The future of education depends not only on classrooms but also on the strength of our library systems,” the Minister emphasised.

For his part, the chairperson of the council, Dr. Michael Ato Essuman, assured the Minister of the Board’s commitment to play a more strategic role in expanding access to information, fostering innovation, and driving educational transformation nationwide.