Adolescent Journalist based in Sunyani New Town, Justice Kodzo Wiado, has been expressing his reservations about the undue delay in completing the Regional Library project, which has been under construction for about two and half decades. He says: “The delay is simply unacceptable.”
In the following write-up, the Adolescent Journalist examines the need for the project to be completed as soon as possible.
Imagine a generation of students without access to books, researchers without resources, and a community deprived of a hub for knowledge. This is the stark reality of the Bono Regional capital, Sunyani, where the Regional Library, a critical educational project, has been left unfinished for over 20 years. The delay is unacceptable. Completing this library is not just an option; it is an urgent necessity for the future of the Bono Region.
Importance of the Sunyani Regional Library
- Enhancing Education and Literacy
A functional regional library would provide students, researchers, and the public with access to a wide range of books, journals, and digital learning materials. Many students in Sunyani and surrounding areas lack adequate learning resources, and a well-equipped library would bridge this gap, improving academic performance.
- Promoting Research and Innovation
A complete library would serve as a research center, supporting students, teachers, and professionals in various fields. With sections dedicated to science, technology, history, and literature, the library could foster innovation and intellectual growth in the region.
- Supporting Digital Literacy
Modern libraries offer internet access and e-learning tools. Completing the Sunyani Regional Library with a digital section would help bridge the digital divide, allowing students and job seekers to acquire computer skills and access online educational resources.
- Preserving Cultural Heritage
The library could include a section dedicated to the history and traditions of the Bono people, preserving important documents, artifacts, and oral histories for future generations.
Why the Sunyani Regional Library Must Be Completed Immediately
- Education Crisis
Students are suffering. Every day the library remains incomplete, thousands of students lose opportunities to excel. Public schools in Sunyani lack well-stocked libraries, forcing pupils to rely on outdated textbooks or expensive private resources. How can we expect academic excellence when basic learning tools are missing? A completed library would provide free access to books, computers, and quiet study spaces, leveling the playing field for all students.
- Killing Innovation and Research
Without a functional library, students, entrepreneurs, and professionals struggle to conduct research. How can we produce doctors, engineers, and scientists if they have nowhere to gather knowledge? Countries that prioritize education infrastructure see rapid development, why should Sunyani be left behind?
- Wasting Taxpayers’ Money
The abandoned library structure is deteriorating. Every year of delay means more funds will be needed for repairs. This is a reckless waste of public money. Completing the project now will save costs and put the facility to good use.
- Unemployment and Lost Economic Potential
A finished library would create jobs, librarians, IT staff, security personnel, and maintenance workers. It could also attract conferences, book fairs, and educational tourism, boosting local businesses. Why let this economic opportunity go to waste?
- A Disgrace to Our Cultural Heritage
Sunyani deserves a library that preserves Bono history, traditions, and literature. Currently, valuable documents and artifacts are scattered or at risk of being lost forever. A regional library could safeguard this heritage for future generations.
Who Is Responsible?
The government (acting through the Ministries of Education and Local Government, the Bono Regional Coordination Council and the Sunyani Municipal Assembly) local leaders, and stakeholders must act now. Promises and delays are no longer acceptable.
We demand the following:
- Immediate funding allocation to complete the project.
- Transparency in the construction process.
- Community involvement to ensure the library meets public needs.
Conclusion
No More Excuses. The Sunyani Regional Library is not just a building, it is a gateway to education, innovation, and progress. Every day of inaction is a betrayal to the youth and the future of the Bono Region. We call on the authorities to prioritize this project now. The time for empty promises is over.
Sunyani deserves action.
The writer is an Adolescent Journalist in Sunyani.
