Accra, Ghana, August 30, 2019//-West Blue Consulting, a world-class business and IT-consulting, and technology firm, through its e-Ananse Libraries, a new concept in public libraries in Ghana today opened historic two ICT driven libraries in the country.
The company through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative built the two public libraries for kids and adults at the University of Ghana, Legon and Osu, a suburb of Accra.
The two libraries opened today are the realization of a long-held dream of West Blue’s founder, Ms. Valentina Mintah, to provide Ghanaians with culturally-relevant resources that celebrate African heritage in line with her mantra, “Think Global; Know Local.”
Speaking at the commissioning of state-of-the-art Legon e-Ananse Libraries facility, inside Baby Nest School premises at the University of Ghana, Legon, the Chief Executive Officer of West Blue Consulting, Michal Addo who read a speech on behalf of the Founder of West Blue Consulting, Madam Valentina Mintah, said: “The e-Ananse Libraries project is a concept developed to encourage reading among our kids and adults”.
She quoted this Sudanese proverb: “We desire to bequeath two things to our children: the first one is roots; the other one is wings” to advance her point.
The e-Ananse Libraries are the embodiment of this adage, firmly rooted in Ghanaian and African culture yet giving our people the wings to fly and soar in the world”.
Madam Mintah noted that the value of traditions and heritage cannot be understated, emphasizing: “ In today’s fast-changing world, where the pressure to keep up with what’s new and modern is intense, the wisdom of our elders is fundamental to ensuring we don’t lose our sense of identity and, ultimately, our purpose.
Knowledge of our history equals pride in who we are as a people – in our strength and our ingenuity, in our resourcefulness and our creativity – and means we can face the world with confidence about our value to it”.
That’s why the global–local approach – being conscious of the realities of global culture while being rooted in local knowledge and traditions – is paramount.
Her mantra, “Think Global, Know Local,” is the guiding principle behind the e-Ananse Libraries. Equipping Ghanaians with the knowledge about what makes us Ghanaian, what makes us African, gives us a better chance of competing in the world, Madam Mintah said.
“It means we’re able to say, yes, we acknowledge the global, but we proudly embrace the local. The assuredness that comes from this self-knowledge is invaluable”.
Part of this global-local approach is coming together as a community, to understand our challenges and proffer solutions.
She used the opportunity to thank their supporters, Mochcom Foundation, Babynest, Big Ideaz, KH3 and UNESCO. Of course, she could not forget her very own CSR Director, their Curator and the West Blue Marcoms Department.
“Talking of roots and wings, the realisation of e-Ananse today, is a testament to my mother Augustina Gockah, who is here today, for instilling in us right from childhood, the strength of being the “authentic you”.
The e-Ananse Libraries bring together many organisations from Ghana and around the world whose values and missions are aligned with our own of preserving local culture while embracing the best of what the world has to offer in terms of knowledge and skills.
This, in itself, is a very African principle and we are committed to ensuring that, through the establishment of the e-Ananse Libraries, we stay true to our values by giving our children both the roots and the wings to succeed, she added.
“At West Blue, we pride ourselves on our commitment to being a pace setting, innovating and world class organisation, and it’s this same mindset that we bring to the e-Ananse Libraries as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility.
Why e-Ananse Libraries
The e-Ananse Libraries stand out for four reasons:
- They house contemporary and classic books, predominantly by writers of African descent, that reflect our pride in our African heritage;
- They each have an iHub with state-of-the-art computing facilities to equip Ghanaiansthrough the Ghana-Oracle Digital Enterprise Program (GODEP), with the skills to compete in today’s tech-savvy world;
- The e-Ananse Amphitheatre is a magnificent live literature space where stories come to life, in the spirit of our Ananse traditions;
- Finally, our knowledgeable and professional staff take pride in their work, and in helping library users achieve their full potential. Capacity building and empowerment is at the core of what we do.
“We’ve started with two libraries – our flagship here at Legon and another in Osu – but this is just the beginning. Our commitment to Ghana is long-standing and long-term and we’re working hard to make the e-Ananse Libraries accessible to Ghanaians across the country”.
This isn’t just socially responsible, it’s necessary to ensure Ghana’s success as a nation and our own as a company that thrives on Ghanaian innovation. Excellence is in everybody’s interests, including our own, and it’s this dedication to fostering it that makes the e-Ananse Libraries an exceptional addition to West Blue’s portfolio, according to Madam Mintah.
60 percent of the books in the libraries are being meant for adults while 40 percent are for kids. Also, 80 percent of the books in the e-Ananse Libraries are written by renowned African writers, while the 20 percent are written by non-African writers.
Commendations
Various speakers at the event including a Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Cynthia Morrison and the Head of UNESCO Office, Ghana, Abdourahamane Diallo, commended West Blue Consulting and its partners for the extra-ordinary e-Ananse Libraries project.
Dr Adutwum lauded the company for choosing to invest its CSR in education and urged the company to extend the wonderful initiative to children in the less privileged areas of the country.
He also pledged the government’s support to the project and assured the company that the Ministry of Education and Ghana Library Authority would partner with the e-Ananse Libraries to help improve the falling standard of education in the country.
A Deputy Minister of Communications, George Andah who chaired the function noted that without commitment to providing ICT tools, the country would be left behind the rest of the world in this digital age.
Features of the libraries
Both e-Ananase libraries feature a core collection of contemporary and classic fiction and nonfiction primarily by writers of African descent as well as niche collections unique to each library including beautiful children’s books, poetry and professional development.
Smart tech
The e-Ananse libraries are equipped with state-of-the-art internet-enabled PCs giving patrons access to the full range of resources available on the web. Also, the entire e-Ananse facilities have WiFi connectivity so patrons can log on with their laptops and work independently.
Ananse theathres
The centrepiece of each e-Ananse library is the Ananse Huts, a magnificent outdoor space where programmes of live literature events take place. Anyone can join them under the shade for a movie, an author reading, or spoken word. Enjoy delicious snacks from the food trucks outside. Hang-out with friends for fun.
Supporting professional staff
The team of supporting professional staff know about books and have their fingers on the pulse of all that is big in African and world literature today, she said whilst conducting journalists around the Osu library today.
Central locations
The e-Ananse libraries are conveniently located at Osu and Legon, both suburbs of Accra, so that people can easily get to them wherever they are in Accra.
Open hours
The libraries are opened to the public from Tuesdays to Fridays at 12 noon to 8 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am to 6 pm.
African Eye Report
