The Ghana Library Authority, established in 1950 as the Ghana Library Board, was the first public library service in sub-Saharan Africa. The public library movement in Ghana began in 1928, as a personal effort of the then Anglican Bishop Orfeur Anglionby of Accra. In 1946, the Aglionby Library Management Committee worked with the British Council Advisory Committee, towards library development in the then Gold Coast. In 2018 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo appointed a Ghanaian Social Entrepreneur, Hayford Siaw as GhLA Chief Executive Officer. In May 2021, the Authority was shortlisted for the LBF International Excellence Awards in the 'Library of the Year' Category. Alhassan Betintiche Ziblim assumed office as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Library Authority in 2025 under the President John Mahama Administration.
History The public library movement in Ghana began in 1928, as a personal effort of the then Anglican Bishop Orfeur Anglionby of Accra who succeeded in building a small library at the Bishop's House with book donated by church members in England for reading and borrowing by the public. The work of the Committee resulted in the passing of the Gold Coast Library Board Ordinance Cap 118, in December, 1949, which became operational on 1 January 1950.
It assumed responsibility for the Anglionby Library, which had been started by John Aglionby, the Anglican bishop of Accra, and the British Council's library service led by Eve Evans.It served as a model for other public library services in Africa. The British Council handed over its Librarian, Miss E. J. A. Evans, and a stock of 27,000 books to start the public library service. This volumes of books were housed in a wing of the King George V Memorial Hall which later became the parliament house for the first, second and third republics. The year 1950 was a significant landmark in the history of public library service in Ghana under the Gold Coast Library Board Ordinance (Cap 118), which was passed by the legislation council in 1949 and came into force in 1950. The Ordinance was later re-enacted as the Ghana Library Board Act 372 in 1970.
Act 327 charges the Ghana Library Authority to establish, equip, manage and maintain public libraries in Ghana; take all such steps as may be necessary to discharge such functions; and to give effect to the principles and provisions of this act. Aside this function, Ghana Library Authority is to conduct in service training courses, seminars and workshops for school Library Assistants and tutor Librarians; visiting schools periodically to inspect and ensure that employee in these libraries are performing to the required standards; and reorganising school and college libraries and helping institutions interested in setting up libraries in their communities.
In April 2026 a Technical Committee was formed to review Act 327 to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for library services in Ghana.
Directors Evelyn Evans was the first Director of Ghana Library Board. The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Authority is Ziblim Alhassan, appointed in June 2025 by the Mahama administration.
Former directors
2018 to 2025 - Hayford Siaw 2016 to 2017 - Rebecca Odua Akita 2014 to 2016 - Kwaku Ofosu-Tenkorang 2013 to 2014 - Adjei N. O. Apenten 2011 to 2013 - Omari Mensah Tenkorang 2004 to 2011 - Ekua Techie Menson 2001 to 2003 - Susannah Minyila 1999 to 2000 - Rose B. Bofah 1996 to 1999 - Sarah D. Kanda 1992 to 1996 - Juliana Sackey 1982 to 1992 - David Cornelius 1966 to 1982 - A. G. T. Ofori 1950 to 1965 - Evelyn J. A. Evans
Award In May 2021, the Ghana Library Authority was awarded the ‘Library of the Year’ at the London Book Fair (LBF) International Excellence Awards.
Branches The Anglionby Library was a huge success, therefore a committee was set up. The committee approached the Commonwealth Education and Welfare Trust for money to build more branches especially children's library. The Trust offered £3,000 for the provision of three libraries in Accra. The donated money was used to build the Osu, Accra Central and Kaneshie. In 1975, there was 17 branches across the country. As at 2019, there were 73 public libraries under Ghana Library Authority.
Greater Accra Region
Accra Central Library It shared its premises with the headquarters of the Ghana Library Authority. It was established in 1946 in former Parliament House. The present premises was officially opened on 17 May 1956 by the governor Sir Charles Arden Clarke, the prime minister, and the president of the British Library Association. The Accra Central Library is located on the High Street, Thorpe Road.
Tema Municipal Library The Tema Branch Library was opened on 9 November 1962 at the Community Centre at Community One in Tema and moved to its current location on 9 January 2003. The library was renovated and reopened in 2019 by Karpowership Company. The library renders lending, reference and ICT services to the public. It goes on outreach to basic schools and renders book box service to some basic schools in the Municipality. It is located at adjacent to the Tema Senior High School.
Dansoman Community Library The Dansoman Branch Library was founded in 1984 as a children's Library. The library is located in the premises of the Dansoman Keep Fit Club. The current building can no longer cater for the population and for that matter, MTN Foundation is constructing a new library complex for the Dansoman Community to be able to cater for both adult and Children at Ebenezer Senior High School.
Lartebiokorshie Community Library The Library started in the last nineties at the residence of Madam Juliana Sackey, former Director of Ghana Library. The current location was opened on 15 May 2013. It was the first library renders service to inmates of the Senior Correctional Centre at Roman Ridge and offers book box services to some schools. It also runs an Adolescent health outreach programme in collaboration with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana and Mamprobi Polyclinic Adolescent Corner to curb the menace of teenage pregnancy within the community.
Osu Community Library The Osu children's Library was opened in 1950. It also organises reading competitions among school children during their long vacation It is located right behind the Osu Commercial Bank in Accra.
Teshie Community Library The Teshie branch library started around 1990 in a rented premise at Teshie. Operations in the current building which was put up the Member of Parliament common fund in 2006 but had a structural defects so the library was closed to the public in 2010. The Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) worked on the building until 2015 when most of the defects have been corrected, thereafter was opened again to the general public. The library is located near the Southern Cluster of Schools in Teshie and it is about 100 meters from the Teshie Family Health Hospital.
Dodowa Community Library The Dodowa Branch Library was established in November 1961 through the initiative of Messrs. E. T. Mensah and Johnson. They applied to the then Director of Ghana Library Board for the facility. The library was started at Lower Dodowa in a rented apartment on the ground floor of a storey building, under the care of a resident who was later trained to become the Library Assistant in charge. It was later relocated in 1977 to its current place which used to be a clinic. The facility is currently undergoing renovation by the Shai-Osudoku District Assembly. Frafraha Library
George Padmore Research Library on African Affairs It was created in 1961 by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, former President of Ghana. The Research Library was symbolic of what was happening and play important role in furthering the aims of the struggle. National Children's Library
Volta Region
Hohoe Library - 1 July 1958 Keta Branch Library - opened on 27 February 1960. Agbozume Community Library Jasikan Library - 1 July 1958 Ho Library Anloga Library Kpando Library - 1 July 1958 Peki Library - 1 July 1973 Tsito Library - established in November 1963
Ashanti Region
Source:
Obuasi Municipal Library - 13 October 1969 Ashanti Regional Library - opened as Branch Library in July, 1951 and gained regional library status on 30 June 1954. Effiduase Library Konongo/Odumase Library - it was opened in July 1959 Ashtown Library Bantama Library Nana Yaw Baah Library, Krofrom Chirapatre Library Kumawu Branch Library
Central Region
Cape Coast Central Library - gained Regional status on 1 July 1970, but opened as a branch in December 1951 Abura Dunkwa Library - 17 August 1957 Apam Library Aquarium Library Elmina Library - It was established in September 1970 Winneba Library Twifo Praso Library Dunkwa-On-Offin Library Ajumako Library
Eastern Region
Eastern Regional Library AKim Oda Library - 13 December 1962 Nkawkaw Library - Officially opened on 24 April 1970 Akim Swedru Branch Library Koforidua Children's Library Abetifi Branch Library Asokore Branch Library Suhyen Branch Library Apeguso Branch Library Oyoko Branch Library Abiriw Branch Library Jumapo Branch Library J. B. Danquah Memorial Library - Kibi Suhum Branch Library Effiduase Branch Library Kukurantumi Branch Library
Northern, North-East and Savannah Region
Northern Regional Library-was initially established as a Branch in August 1955 (and on 21 August 1964, was elevated and officially commissioned to the status of the Regional library). Damongo Library - It was opened in April 1959 Gambaga Library - It was opened in August 1968 Mandari Community Library - It was opened in September 2021
Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Region Bono Region Regional Library Dormaa Library Sunyani Children's Library - 20 March 1970 Duadaso Library Wenchi Branch Library
Bono East Region Techiman Library Kintampo Library
Ahafo Region Goaso Library Duayaw Nkwanta
Upper East Region
Bolgatanga Library Sandema Library Bongo Library Navrongo Library
Western and Western North Region
Sekondi Library - it was opened on 19 September 1952 however in July 1956, it became the Western Regional Library. Takoradi Library Axim Library - 1 July 1971 Bibiani Library Sefwi Wiawso Library Tarkwa Library - 6 July 1956
Upper West Region
Wa Library - It was opened in January 1960
Sections The objectives of the Ghana Library Authority is to provide materials for educational support, in the areas of both formal or informal education, in order to have a mass of informed citizens in the country and act as a centre for the dissemination of information of any kind and by any means, such as books, newspapers, magazines; to provide facilities for study and research. Additional objectives include active participation in community activities, with the provision of information to fill specific needs, and to promote and encourage a reading culture in the country..These sections were created to fulfill the objectives.
Lending The Lending section serves adult and student users. It provides books for lending to registered users. It also renders Interlibrary Loans, Reservation, Referral and Current Awareness services. It observes UN days with exhibitions and displays. It organizes Outreach Programmes for selected Senior High Schools, Readers Club, Research and French Literacy services to the public.
References The Reference section room provided for study and research. It admits only adult and student users. objective of the Reference Library is to provide the right information to the right person at the right time. It has sitting capacity of 125. It opens from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday. It offers current awareness services, selective dissemination of information, interlibrary loan, library orientation and referral services. Its resources include books, newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, government publications, laws and historic maps.
Children