Category: Ghana

Paul Ayuretoliya  writes: This is a brief report from CESRUD/FAVL Ghana libraries for April 2019. Patronage to all the respective three community libraries was good and encouraging, especially during the first and second weeks. Patrons and students during these weeks were revising their notes to write their end of term exams before the Easter break. Other patrons read story books in their respective libraries. As a result of the Easter holidays, the last two weeks of the month saw a steady low attendance to the libraries. However, there were a few committed patrons who visited the libraries regularly throughout the month, which was encouraging. Despite the business of the Easter festivities, the Coordinator and the librarians led a few group readings. Group reading sessions are fun, and the patrons like them. Games and movie shows were part of the activities that characterized the month of April. Additionally, the libraries at Sumbrungu and Sherigu solved the problem of darkness caused by frequent power outages. We greatly appreciate the two rechargeable lamps that were bought and given to these libraries, because now patrons can read during the night sessions whenever the power goes out. In conclusion, CESRUD/FAVL Ghana libraries are functioning well. On behalf of CESRUD/FAVL Ghana Community Libraries, I want to extend my sincere thanks to you and all the donors supporting our community libraries. Your efforts and support are putting smiles daily in the faces of the African children.

Paul Ayutoliya writes:

Detective Inspector Dawson affectionately referred to as ‘Dark’ by his lovely wife Christine sets out to unravel the mysteries surrounding the killings or murders of young teenagers in the city of Accra. Dawson was called to a scene where a dead body almost at decomposition state was discovered at the Korle Lagoon near Agbogbloshie market in the capital city of Ghana Accra. Agbogbloshie’s market was a hub for all sorts of crimes. He met some of his colleagues from the Ghana police service trying to bring the dead body out from the filthy stinking lagoon that was covered with waste of all kinds. It was difficult identifying the body right at the spot. Dawson working with the mortuary men and some friends from the media to establish that the victim died from a stabbing at the back and the victim was also identified as Musa Zakari after a girl friend (Akosua) came sobbing uncontrollable with her friend Regina with and also the DNA test confirmation. Detective Inspector Dawson asked the girls who they saw last with Musa Zakari before he went missing. The girlfriend responded by saying Musa was last seen with one Daramani who helped Musa carry some load to Maamobi, the mentioning of Daramani from Nima Maamobi sent some shock waves down the entire system of Dawson. Dawson had one ex-convict who was convicted over drugs (weed) issues as a friend, there’s a lot Dawson and Daramani share with each other in secret. Dawson fear was because he had an uncontrolled appetite for weed (he secretly smokes) which Daramani know of, he feared this secret could be revealed if something is not done quickly, Dawson tried reaching Daramani without success. In no time some rumour of conflict of interest comments were heard from some of Dawson colleagues at the service because he visited Daramani place without Seageant Chikata who obviously should have been part of that visit.

Sergeant Chikata who was lower in rank to Dawson in his quest to get to the top at all cost without wanting to pass through the right procedure saw him taking over the investigation with the support of his relative Superintendent Theoplilus Lartey. His investigation style was very shallow and lacks professionalism. All the praises shower on him (Chikata) from some colleagues, the newspapers and others turned otherwise when the DNA test on the knife he pick from Daramani room with blood stains turned out to be that of animals blood and not human. Chikata was confounded, sad, sorrowful and guilty of being disrespectful to his superior Dawson, he thought he knew better but no. Dawson continued with the investigations to find out who murdered Musa Zakari, before he could even get any meaningful information another dead body was reported at a constructions site. This dead body neck was broken with the head facing up and stomach facing down, there was a Street Children of Accra Refuge (SCOAR) card found on him bearing the name Ebenezer Sarpong. Dawson and his colleagues’ police force were becoming more worry of the number of murder cases being recorded. Detective Inspector Dawson was determined to unravel the mysteries of these unusual deaths.

Hosiah, Dawson’s son, had a hole in the heart condition and was a nightmare to Dawson, anytime Dawson thinks of his son and his condition that need urgent surgery which they were not able to afford the fees, Dawson always appear to be a restless man. But upon all these troubles, Dawson had not forgotten about Sly, the small boy that reported the death of Musa Zakari. Dawson had wanted to put Sly in a primary school but Gamel had absconded with Sly and nobody know their where about. Dawson continued the search as more crimes continued on the rise; one prostitute by name Comfort was raped, killed and dump at a refuse trash near the railway line, Dawson became more worried and wondered if the killings were for ritual purposes or a serial killer was on the loose or… what he could not tell. Dawson and Sergeant Chikata made a headway in their investigation as some of the prime suspects were arrested. Tedamm one of the notorious boy known for his cruelty was arrested with Flash a counterpart in connections with the murders, fighting and other bad related matters. Antwi and Ofuso were also questioned about what they know concerning Tedamm and Comforts death.

What a great novel it is, I am left with the third part which is the concluding part, I will let you know how this novel ends and my thoughts.

On 30th January 2019, the executive director of CESRUD, Mr. Rex Asanga (in the picture, at right), the coordinator of CESRUD/FAVL Ghana libraries, Mr. Paul Ayutoliya, and the Upper East Regional Librarian, Mr. Leslie Kasanga (in the picture, at left) met with the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Honourable Joseph Amiyuure (in the picture, center) at his office. The purpose was to discuss how the Municipal Assembly might support the three community libraries.

Briefing the MCE on his meeting with the Ghana Library Authority in Accra, Rex said that the Ghana Library Authority was ready to support the three community libraries but that they could only do that through the respective Assemblies; that is the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly where Sumbrungu and Sherigu community libraries are located and the Bongo District Assembly where the Gowrie-Kunkua community library is located. In others words, the respective assemblies should play some supportive roles in these libraries, taking care of the staffing for instance, and they (GhLA) could come in with say the technical assistance like training of librarians, donations of books and other learning materials. Rex noted that FAVL has been the main donor taking care of almost everything in the libraries, and CESRUD focus is on the long sustainability of the community libraries hence the search for other support.

The MCE was happy about the idea of community libraries and assured us that he will do what he can do in his capacity as the MCE to get the needed support. He suggested we could let the librarians or person who are qualified to apply for the NABCO program currently ongoing in Ghana. He also spoke about National Youth Employment (NYE) which the librarians without tertiary qualification can also try applying. He inquired to know whether there available lands to put up buildings for the Sumbrungu and Sherigu Community libraries in the future, is something he said we should be thinking towards it going into the future, and that perhaps he could factored it in the next assembly budget to see if it will go through. The MCE also suggested if we could contact the Ministry of Education to see probably if they can support in the area of infrastructure. The MCE ended by saying, we should write formally to his office of all the support that we asking for the purpose of records.

The Regional Librarian Mr. Leslie Kasanga who went with us backed us in our request for support; he told the MCE he was impressed about the respective libraries when he recently visited them for assessment purposes. He also seized the opportunity to inform the MCE of this year being declared as a year of reading and that they will be inviting him to the launching of the program in the Regional Library when the date is fixed.

It was a good meeting and FAVL and CESRUD are looking forward to more collaboration and support with the MCE!

On the second week of January, patronage began to pick up rapidly as the basic pupils resumed school in this particular week. Serious libraries activities of reading, games and videos shows among others took off in all the three libraries. In Sumbrungu Community Library there was reading of story books, group reading with Coordinator and librarians. Some of the books read in group with patrons were ‘CHILDREN OF THE TREE’ by Meshack Asare, Jafta’s Mother by Hugh Lewin, Jafta by Hugh Lewin, Do Not Keep Quiet by Doris Owusu among others. One of our group reading books entitled, Do Not Keep Quiet by Doris Owusu, for instance is about sensitizing young people especially the girls to report anyone who tries to lure them in doing anything bad either with money or anything to their parents and to the appropriate authorities. There were a number of exciting games also during the week.

From the Sherigu Community Library, the librarian Miss Adombila also read with patrons the Literacy Change my Life Series; Diana a Hairdresser Learns to Read, I Want to Start Reading and Hanatu, a Seamstress Learns to Read. Individual reading, games and other activities were carried out also in the second and third week. It was all fun.

At the Gowrie-Kunkua Community Library, the librarian Mr. Nyaaba also read with library users the story of Kente for a King by Angela Christian. The Kente for a King is a story about the evolution of the Kente Cloth woven by the Ashanti people. There were games, cleanup exercise also during these weeks.

To conclude on recent happenings in our libraries; patronage have picked up well both daily and night sessions. We will be coming up with a number of weekly reading programs for this year 2019. The Ghana Library Authority has declared this year a year of reading; we want to work in line with this initiative of the GhLA by also making this year a year of reading also in all our community libraries.

Paul Ayutoliya writes:
On Dec. 15, I toured the three CESRUD/FAVL Ghana Community Libraries with Upper East Regional Librarian, the tour was for the Regional Librarian to carry out an assessment of the libraries. We also visited the Vea Community Library in the Bongo District for the same assessment purposes.

 

CESRUD/FAVL Ghana’s community libraries resumed work yesterday, the 7th of January 2019. The day was use for a general cleanup of all the three community libraries and the surroundings. We are in a dusty season in the part of our country, so the whole day was use for the cleanup exercise, dusting of tables and chairs, books and games, removing cobwebs and others to make the libraries neat and conducive for users to be able to come and read the following day. It was lot of work but together with few regular library patrons assisting the librarians, all the libraries were cleaned.  Today, the 8th of January all the three community libraries were open to users. As usual, most of the patrons are still in the festive mood with their families, so the attendance for today is very low in all the libraries. But as the days go by and basic pupils resume school on the 15th, attendance will increase. This year 2019, we are hopeful that is going to be a year of reading for everyone.

The month began well with records of continual good libraries usage in the three respective communities libraries. Attendance to the libraries has increased significantly since the beginning of the month. The reason for the significant increases in libraries attendance are as follows:

1. Organization of group readings in the respective libraries led by the Library’s Coordinator and the respective librarians in the first and second weeks.
2. Visit to nearby schools by the Coordinator and the respective librarians talking to students /pupils on the importance of visiting the libraries to read or learn.
3. Students /pupils preparations towards their End of First Term Exams.
4. Games and videos shows.
5. Riddles and story telling.
6. The replacement of new fans, louvres blades, curtains and other works making the libraries (the Sherigu Library in particular) a more conducive place for reading.

The night sessions libraries attendance is equally very encouraging as patrons visit the libraries in their good numbers to read or learn in preparation for their exams. The Bolgatanga Polytechnic Students also maximize the usage of the Sumbrungu Community Library in particular to prepare for their exams.  In conclusion, CESRUD/FAVL Ghana’s Community libraries are operating well, I do post photos of most of the libraries activities and my tours on the libraries mission on my Facebook page. I am happy you follow almost all the posts with likes, encouraging comments and sharing some.

The issue of non functioning fans at the Sherigu library was worked on yesterday Dec 10. Three new fans (AL-RAS fans) were fixed replacing the old ones. Ten louvre blades were fixed with other carpentering works. The librarian, Miss Cecilia Adombila, the library committee, some teachers of the St. Peter and Paul Academy School who were around with some of their pupils who witnessed every single work at the end were very happy and appreciative to FAVL/CESRUD for coming to their aid. The patrons were more particularly happy saying they can now concentrate when learning or reading, no more sweating or suffering from heat when in the library. Together with the librarian, the committee members, the library users we are grateful and thankful to FAVL team for this support.

This is a report about the end of the month of November meeting held at the Sumbrungu Library on 1st December 2018. The Coordinator who chairs the meeting welcomed everyone to the meeting. The agenda of the meeting centered on the performance of the respective Community Libraries up to date, what have been done well and what need to improve. Each librarian wasgiven the opportunity to say a word on happenings in their respective library for the past months. The Sumbrungu Librarian, Mr. Timothy Apenoore mentioned a number of reading programs, games and visitors received in the library. He said patrons were getting more used to reading than before. He mentioned of a number of books read some of which are: The Lucky One, The Magic Goat, Kente for a King, Do not Keep Quiet, The Cat and Dog Series and many more. He also mentioned the different kind of games and video shows which the children like In his own words, library performance have been good save to say the users’ requests for more subject books and computers. The Sherigu librarian, Miss Cecilia Adombila talked about reading activities that she held for the month of November. Attendance to the library had been good in her words also. She also touched books she read during the month and the mending or repaired of some books. The challenge or problem in the library according to her is the non functioning of all the three fans, six broken louvre blades which cause a lot of dust to books, tables and chairs. She appealed for support to fix such problems. The Gowrie-Kunkua Library also said their library performance had been good. The reading programs such as quiz competition, group reading, individual reading, story telling, games and visits to the library by some parents kept the library patrons visiting always. He ended by also mentioning again that they need fans in the library.

Commenting on all that was said, the chair thanked them for the good work and asked that they continue to discharge their duties well. As librarians the chair told them; we also have a duty to look around and see those people who can help in one way or the other and approach them either through letters or personal contact, we can write to the Assembly men, NGOs and other bodies that can offer any support to promote reading. The chair assured them that their concerns however would be forwarded. We had not meet for quite some time which was a short coming the chair admitted, we will henceforth hold all our end of month meetings. The librarians read their reports loud to the hearing of all, a number of correction were made. A careful look at their reports sent will show this. The chair took the opportunity and introduced the newly appointed Sherigu Librarian to other librarians. She also got to know the other librarians of the other community libraries. They promised to work hand in hand in promoting reading at their respective communities.

From Paul Ayuretoliya:

I paid a visit today (December 4) to the Gowrie-Kunkua Community Library. Patrons who came from the Kunkua primary and Junior High School read with me and the librarian the story of the Crocodile Bread, Teen Princess, and All about Ama. Some parents were also at the library to read with us. I took the opportunity to talk to the pupils/students the need to always make time and attend the library to read books. The pupils were happy to be part of today’s daily sessions at the library. They requested for more subject books some of which includes Science, I.C.T, and Basic Design Technology. We had good time reading together.