The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has underscored the urgent need to revive Ghana’s reading culture through deliberate national investment in libraries across all levels of education.
Speaking before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on Monday, November 3, 2025, Mr. Iddrisu observed that reading habits in the country have declined significantly, affecting learning outcomes and civic awareness.
“The reading culture in Ghana needs to improve,” he said.
“When you travel abroad, especially in the mornings, you will see almost everybody holding a newspaper, catching their breath on what is happening in the country. We generally have to look at the reading culture of Ghana.”
The Minister revealed that concerns about inadequate library facilities have been consistently raised during his regional visits.
“I was in Bono Ahafo, and the Omanhene invited me and raised concerns about the Sunyani Regional Library. The same concern was raised in Koforidua. When you go to many schools, they do not have adequate support when it comes to their libraries,” he said.
Mr. Iddrisu announced that the Ministry of Education will soon present a motion before Parliament to ensure every school has access to a library facility.
He added that the government is also exploring the possibility of introducing digital libraries to promote reading and research among students.
“We need to invest more in libraries,” he stressed. “If we have the resources, we should be thinking about getting a digital library across our educational levels.”