Communities must use ICT centres and libraries to build capacity – Liberian
The Eastern Regional Liberian of the Ghana Library Board, Mr Konwuruk Jawuruk, has advised communities to use public libraries and Information and Communication Centres (ICT) to build critical minds towards solving their socio-economic problems permanently.
He said browsing the internet would enable them to access authoritative, vital and credible information on developmental programmes to get assistance from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other donor agencies to enhance the development of the communities.
Mr Jawuruk gave the advice at the inauguration of a GH¢50,000 Community Library at Akoase in the Birim North District on Wednesday.
The Regional Liberian said hitherto it was the Library Board which constructed community libraries throughout the country.
But a new directive in connection with the decentralization processes had shifted that responsibility to the district assemblies to establish community libraries, stock them and employ competent staff to man them.
The Managing Director of Big Step Foundation, an NGO, Mr Samuel Anie-Amoah, said the foundation had provided 175 computers for the establishment of ICT centres in a number of communities.
The communities include Ntronang, New Abirim, Adausena, Afosu, Akoase, Ayirebi and Kotokuom in the Birim North and Akyemmansa Districts.
Other beneficiaries are the Asankare Leadership Training Institute in the Ashanti Region, the Saint Michael Senior High School at Akoase, the Birim North District Assembly and the District Education Office at New Abirim. They began the project four years ago to assist the rural communities to access ICT education.
He advised the beneficiaries to ensure the effective use and regular maintenance of the computers to expand their life span to benefit a larger society.
In an address read on her behalf, the District Chief Executive of Birim North, Ms Mavis Ama Frempong, advised parents to be interested in their children’s education because education was the best legacy they could bequeath to them.
The Krontihene of the town, Nana Osei Agyekum, advised the school children against spending too much of their time watching films but rather to visit the library and the ICT centre to regularly to upgrade their knowledge.
Source: GNA