Elizabeth Arthur, the Regional Liberian, explaining a point to the Ashanti Professionals ClubÂ
THE ELECTRICITY Company of Ghana (ECG) has, since January 2017, cut power supply to the Ashanti Regional Library, situated at the Center for National Culture in Kumasi, over GH¢24,000 debt.
As a result, the library, which is the main center for learning by students in Kumasi and the nearby communities, has become moribund.
For instance, the light off had led to the closure of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) section of the library because there is no power to boot the computers.
NDC Neglect
DAILY GUIDE learnt that the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration virtually failed woefully to support the library with monies due them during the past three years and that has made the library cash strapped.
Aside the power cut, the library’s mobile library bus, which used to travel to villages to support students in those areas, had also been grounded due to lack of cash for fuel.
APC Support
These came to light when the Ashanti Professionals Club (APC) made up of professionals with different backgrounds, renovated and painted the Ashanti Library building at the cost of GH¢ 40,000.
The APC’s core mandate is to play leading roles in ensuring the proper development of the Ashanti Region. The transformation of education is also one of their core areas of interest.
Mrs. Abena Antwi, Executive Member of APC, said members of her group contributed cash to fix the leakages in the library’s roofing after which the building was painted to give it a new look.
She stated that the APC, whose members include the Education Minister, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh aka ‘Napo’ and other top dignitaries, would sustain their laudable works to accelerate the development of the region.
Elizabeth Arthur, the Regional Librarian, said lack of government support over the past three years was having a negative toll on the services of the library, hence urged the authorities concerned to come to their aid.
She said at a point in 2016, ECG cut power supply to the facility and some of the staffers of the library after rendering consultancy services to the Kejetia projects, used the proceeds to pay part of the debt.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi