The Ghana Library Authority (GLA) has declared 2019 a year of reading and set out plans to build 15 new libraries across the country this year.

In addition to a raft of measures to ensure increased patronage of library services across the country, the Authority will also refurbish existing libraries and ensure that they have adequate reading materials.

“Currently, we have 61 public libraries for a population of almost 30 million.

“It is woefully inadequate, and, so, one of the goals under the National Year of Reading is to expand access to various library points, and we anticipate that this year, about 13 to 15 new libraries will be added to the current footprint. But we are still open to working with different corporate institutions that are willing to support existing systems to be able to make the necessary impact in the country,” CEO of the GLA, Hayford Siaw told ClassFM’s Blessed Sogah in an interview.

The GLA has also rolled out a five-point agenda to improve Ghana’s literacy rate. It includes various targeted campaign programmes in deprived areas.