George Padmore; The only library issuing unique codes to publishers
It is the only library and research centre in the country mandated by law to receive a legal deposit.
This means that every author in Ghana must submit two copies of his/her book to the library after it is published.
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This centre is known as The George Padmore Research Library. It is a form of monument established by Dr Kwame Nkrumah in honour of George Padmore on June 30, 1961 and located at Ring Way, Osu in Accra.
George Padmore, born on June 28, 1903 in Trinidad in the Caribbean, was a Pan - Africanist, journalist and author. From 1945, Kwame Nkrumah developed close relations with George Padmore during the Organisation of the fifth Pan-African Congress held in Manchester in the United Kingdom in October 1945 and he arrived in Ghana in 1957.
Upon his arrival, he set up an office which focused on African Liberation. After the death of George Padmore in 1959, Kwame Nkrumah built the George Padmore Research Library of African Affairs as a monument to honour him. He authored over 50 books including the popular “Pan-Africanism or Communism?”
The library plays a major role in the country which makes it unique. The library is mandated to publish the Ghana National videography.
It is the only library in Ghana which issues the international standard serial and book numbers and music numbers, (ISBNISSNISMN).
These are unique numbers or codes which are given to book publishers in the country.
The library has digitised book materials on the Ghana library application that gives every child the opportunity to access it on the Internet.
It has access to the bureau of African affairs’ documents, these are personal documents and memoranda written by Kwame Nkrumah, George Padmore and other Pan Africanists who led Africa to independence.
It has all kinds of books on sociology, anthropology, psychology, African history among others. It is mostly visited by university students and scholars for research purposes from all countries. It also has computers which students use for research online.
In an interview with the Director of the library, Mr Simon Tettey, he advised children to cultivate the habit of reading because it is the fundamental to education.
