Salaga gets 20-million-cedi community library

Salaga (Northern Region), 15 Jan '99 - A 20 million-cedi community library built through the self-help initiative of the Salaga Youth Association (SAYA) was yesterday commissioned at a ceremony at Salaga in the East Gonja District. The well-equipped library which can accommodate about 50 people was financed through a 4.5-million cedi contribution by members of the association who also provided free labour, a donation by the United States Embassy in Ghana through its special self-help programme and three million cedis from the District Assembly. Mr John Sullivan, co-ordinator of the special self-help programme at the embassy who commissioned the project, said the programme which began in Togo in 1964 has since 1990 made grants of more than 800,000 dollars for projects in Ghana. "Often the self-help programme provides materials to finish construction of a school or clinic or provides equipment needed for an income generating project that a community has began on its own initiative", he explained. Mr Sullivan said the Salaga Community Library project idea was mooted by Madam Berns, Madam Doris Hubble and Madam Tracy Delyea former peace corps volunteers at Salaga and praised members of SAYA for helping to implement it. Alhaji Seidu Karimu, district chief executive said the new community library adds to the existing one built by the District Assembly and appealed to the Ghana Library Board to post a librarian to the district and provide more books and equipment for the two libraries. Mr S.P. Dakurah, district director of education in a speech read on his behalf, said the Ghana Education Service has asked district assemblies to provide community libraries so that students, especially, can broaden their knowledge through reading.