By: Joyce Kantam Kolamong
With the rainy season setting in across Tamale, fears are mounting that the Northern Regional Library could be forced to shut its doors — a year after heavy storms ripped off part of its roofing, leaving books, equipment and patrons at risk.
A visit to the library by GBCNews revealed that despite assurances from authorities last year, the damaged roof has not been repaired. Water leaks have already begun in parts of the building, including offices and the adult section, a capacity of about 200, which has now been closed to the public. Adults and children are currently sharing the children’s section.
“Nothing has been done. Not even a bit,” a regular user said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We heard that they promised to fix it, but the rains have started again”. Last year, the water was so bad you could use a boat inside the library. It was embarrassing”, the user added.
A Year of Broken Promises
The roof damage first occurred during heavy rains in 2025. The incident was widely reported at the time, with officials visiting the site and pledging swift action.
“We all reported it. It was so embarrassing. Sometimes my daughter goes there to read story books,” a concern parent and community member stated. “It is in our community, and we are all concerned.”
Snippets of information reaching GBCNews indicates that a formal report was sent to the Regional Minister’s office about the destruction of the roof since it occurred last year but no action has been taken.
“I placed it on record that the rains are coming, our place is not in good shape, and property will be affected again,” another user said.
“If it starts raining heavily, management may have to close the library. It is best to preserve what we have and protect people. If anything falls, we’ll be in danger.”
Regional Equity Questioned
The situation has sparked frustration over perceived regional disparities in library infrastructure. Sources at the facility pointed to the Central and Eastern Regions, where libraries reportedly faced similar issues but was renovated “within months”.
The source noted that the current President, the Minister of Education, and the CEO of the Ghana Library Authority are all natives of the Northern Region. The source said “I wasn’t expecting this, I thought by this year, this place would have been completely renovated.”
The library falls under the Ghana Education Service, and concerned users and patrons insist authorities are aware of the problem. “They are all aware. Not that they are not aware,” they indicated.
Digital Gaps and Encroachment
The challenges extend beyond structural damage. While the library has chairs and shelves, many shelves remain empty and the facility has not transitioned to digital services. In current library dispensation, digitalization of the library is important, however, Tamale has not received such upgrades. The only mobile library van is also grounded due to “battery and tire” issues.
Encroachment is another concern. Kiosks and vendors, have set up at the library’s frontage near the traffic light. Previous attempts by the assembly to clear them were met with hostility, with some vendors claiming ties to the local palace.
The lack of dedicated discussion space has also affected students. A rear area once used by tertiary students for group study is no longer viable, forcing everyone into the noisy children’s section. “Now you can’t do that. The young ones are always making noise, the place is overcrowded during school vacation,” the source said.
Until Disaster Strikes
The children’s section has also started leaking, though “it’s not that bad yet”. Community members credit the building’s concrete structure for preventing worse damage. They said, “the concrete is what saved them. If it had been a ceiling, it would have been bad”.
What Next
The library serves not only Tamale but surrounding communities, with students traveling from Gushegu and other towns to access books and study space.
“This library is saving a lot of people’s money, if nothing is done, the entire building needs to be closed down to preserve what is left of it”, aggrieved concern residents stated.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com