Ghana Library Association

GHANA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
(Registered under the Professional Bodies Decree NRCD 143 of 1973 with Registration No. PB 21 dated 2nd August 1986)

Our Ref: GLA/811-FAA/2026 P.O.BOX GP4105
Accra -Ghana
PRESIDENT: Mr. Kodjo Asafo-Adjei Antwi E-mail: [email protected]
SECRETARY: Ms. Aba Amandzewaa Anaman Website: https://www.gla.org.gh

Date: 30th March, 2026

Open Petition to the Minister of Education

Dear Hon. Haruna Iddrisu,

RE: PETITION TO UPHOLD THE APPOINTMENT OF DR. FRED ALPHA ADAMS AS ACTING VICE PRINCIPAL OF DAMBAI COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

The Ghana Library Association (GLA) writes to respectfully petition your office, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) to uphold the appointment of Dr. Fred Alpha Adams as the Acting Vice Principal of Dambai College of Education.

The Association has taken note of the concerns raised by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) questioning the suitability of Dr. Adams, a qualified Academic Librarian and PhD holder, for the administrative leadership role. We write to provide clarity, present evidence, and highlight best practices that firmly establish that academic librarians are not only qualified but are often exemplary candidates for leadership positions within tertiary education institutions.

1. Legal and Regulatory Framework Support of the Appointment
Per the dictates of Article 195 (3) of the Constitution of Ghana, "The power to appoint persons to hold or act in an office in a body of higher education, research or professional training, shall vest in the Council or other governing body of that institution or body." We trust that the Council of Dambai College of Education acted within this constitutional mandate and Article 16 (1) of the Colleges of Education Act, 2012. The Council’s decision to appoint Dr. Adams is therefore a legitimate exercise of its statutory authority. Therefore, the cry of “Ultra Vires” by the leadership of CETAG regarding the appointment of Dr. Adams does not arise.

2. Academic Librarians Are Classified as Academic Staff
CETAG’s core argument rests on a fundamental misunderstanding of the term "academic." The Harmonised Statutes for Colleges of Education, particularly Statute 25, does not list the library as a non-teaching unit, affirming its academic role. Furthermore, academic librarians are required to hold a research master’s degree, preferably a PhD, a qualification synonymous with academic staff.
The University for Development Studies (UDS), the parent public university to which Dambai College of Education is affiliated, provides further clarity. Section 9.0 of the Criteria for Appointments and Promotion of Senior Members of the University for Development Studies (dated January 2026) states without ambiguity: "Staff of the library, on coming into effect of these Statutes, shall belong to the academic senior member category."
Again, part of CETAG’s argument hinges on the premise that no Academic Librarian has ever held the office of a Vice Chancellor/Principal, Pro Vice-Chancellor/Vice Principal and the like, and as such, the lack of precedence. This indicates their lack of awareness of some of the advancement in the higher education space in Ghana. Prior to the year 2012/2013, Academic Librarians were not necessarily required to hold a research masters/PhD for appointment and promotion. This meant that they had no chance of matching their teaching counterparts in terms of the requirement for occupying such high administrative offices. The situation is presently the reverse. Currently, Academic Librarians go through the same or analogous rigor for appointment and promotion, putting them at par for the same opportunities available for academics.

3. The UTAG Precedent
CETAG’s attempt to separate academic librarians from the broader academic community is inconsistent with established national practice. The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), despite its name, includes academic librarians as full members. Notably, between 2016 and 2018, an Academic Librarian served as the National Treasurer of UTAG. This demonstrates that within Ghana’s public university system, librarians are recognized as integral academic staff, eligible for leadership roles.

4. The Vice Principal Role is Administrative, Not Exclusively Teaching
The position of Vice Principal is an administrative office requiring leadership, institutional knowledge, and administrative acumen and qualities. Academic librarians are highly trained professionals who manage complex institutional resources, lead departments, support research, and facilitate teaching and learning. Their role places them at the center of knowledge development and institutional growth.

The office of the College Librarian or University Librarian is equally a tenured administrative leadership position like any academic unit. It provides the opportunity for its occupants to gain administrative experience in diverse areas of the institution and how they fuse into the total governance of the entire institutional structure. If CETAG members with expertise in only their subject areas, can gain experience as Heads of Department of their unique academic units, and with the right higher degree qualifications, appreciate and lead the entire institution despite the unique needs of the diverse units including the library and the office of the librarian, then it is only fair to note that a qualified Academic Librarian can have the same appreciation of institutional diversity and provide leadership. CETAG’s assertion that one must be a “course teacher” to be able to understand and appreciate the needs of the “academic teaching units” at the governance level is misleading and encourages exclusivity among academics.

5. Appointment Based on Merit and Academic Standing
We understand that Dr. Adams is not only an academic librarian but also a PhD holder and, from available information, the most senior PhD holder among the academic staff at Dambai College of Education. The Search Committee and the Council rightly affirmed his appointment based on merit, qualification, and experience. Information reaching the GLA indicates that the Council of the College has already given its justification for the appointment to GTEC upon the request of the same by GTEC, after which a letter of appointment was issued to Dr. Adams.

To deny Dr. Adams the leadership role on the basis of not ‘teaching’, rather than his competence, would constitute unfair discrimination and set a dangerous precedent for other non-teaching academics in higher education.

Conclusion
The Ghana Library Association firmly believes that upholding Dr. Adams’ appointment will affirm the principle that administrative leadership positions in tertiary institutions should be based on merit, competence. It will also signal a progressive, inclusive approach to academic governance that values the contributions of all categories of academic staff.
We therefore urge the Ministry of Education, GTEC, and NCTE to reject the demands of CETAG and uphold the appointment of Dr. Fred Alpha Adams as Acting Vice Principal of Dambai College of Education.
We trust that you will give this letter the urgent consideration it deserves.
Signed:
Yours in the service of the nation,
Kodjo Asafo-Adjei Antwi
President, Ghana Library Association (GLA)
Contact: +233 24 480 7525
[email protected]
[email protected]

Cc:
The Director-General, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC)
The Executive Secretary, National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE)
The Chairman, Council of Dambai College of Education
The President, Conference of Principal of Colleges Education, Ghana (PRINCOF)
The Principal, Dambai College of Education
National President, Academic Librarians Association of Colleges of Education, Ghana (ALACEG)
The National Chairman, University Librarians of Ghana (ULG)

www.gla.org.gh

🚨 *GLA Speaks Out: Setting the Record Straight*

Dambai CoE: GLA defends librarian’s appointment as acting Vice Principal The Ghana Library Association (GLA) has defended the appointment of a college librarian as Acting Vice Principal at Dambai College of Education, pushing back

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 21 March 2026

GLA Responds to CETAG Concerns Over Appointment of the College Librarian as Acting Vice Principal

The Ghana Library Association (GLA) issues this statement in response to concerns raised by the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) regarding the appointment of Dr. Fred Alpha Adams, College Librarian at Dambai College of Education, as Acting Vice Principal.

The GLA clarifies that academic librarians are highly qualified professionals with advanced degrees, including PhDs, and play a central role in teaching, research, and institutional administration. Their classification as academic staff is affirmed by the Harmonised Statutes for Colleges of Education and practice in public universities, where librarians are recognised as academics.

The Association emphasises that the Vice Principal position is administrative and not reserved exclusively for teaching staff. It cites Article 195(3) of the Constitution and the Colleges of Education Act, 2012, affirming the governing body’s authority to appoint based on merit and competence.

The GLA refutes CETAG’s claims that the appointment undermines academic governance, drawing parallels with past appointments of officers not directly teaching or working as academics such as Prof. Stephen Adei at GIMPA, stepping in with his administrative and leadership skills to uplift the institution to a tertiary status. It also highlights inconsistencies in CETAG’s interpretation of "academic staff" and urges them to embrace inclusivity, noting that University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) includes librarians as members.

The GLA calls on the Minister of Education, GTEC, and NCTE to reject CETAG’s demands and uphold the appointment, describing it as a milestone for merit-based leadership and the recognition of academic librarians in higher education.

Signed:
Kodjo Asafo-Adjei Antwi
President, Ghana Library Association
Contact: +233 24 480 7525

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YjkzNDdjY2ItMzlhYi00YTY3LTg0NjktNGQ1NDFiOGZhOWYy%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22941bbf5f-f2c0-4875-a24c-6907865d251a%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22c8ff23f3-ecc8-431b-9dfc-47ece35918fa%22%7d

Meeting ID:
382 768 086 194 01

Passcode:
4M8Rg9N5

The Ghana Library Journal (GLJ) successfully organised its first Editorial Training Workshop on 25 February 2026, as part of the EIFL-supported project to strengthen the journal’s editorial workflow and publishing standards.

The workshop formed part of the capacity-building component of the project and brought together members of the editorial team, reviewers, and key contributors involved in the management of the Ghana Library Journal. The training was designed to enhance the skills and competencies required for efficient journal management using the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform.

Participants were taken through several critical aspects of journal management, including:

Introduction to Open Journal Systems (OJS)

Overview of the editorial workflow

Manuscript submission and editorial decision processes

Assigning and managing peer reviewers

Responding to reviewer reports

Copyediting and production processes

Issue management and publication workflows

The workshop also included practical demonstrations on the upgraded OJS platform, introducing participants to new features such as ORCID integration, DOI management, automated editorial communications, and usage analytics.

This first training workshop represents an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to strengthen the editorial processes, quality assurance, and international visibility of the Ghana Library Journal. It has significantly enhanced the editorial capacity of the journal and positioned the editorial team to manage submissions more efficiently and in line with global best practices in scholarly publishing.

We are grateful to EIFL for supporting this initiative and to all participants who contributed to making the training a success.

We look forward to continuing this journey of strengthening scholarly publishing within the Library and Information Science community in Ghana and beyond.

Dr. Monica Mensah Danquah
Editor-in-Chief, Ghana Library Journal

🇬🇭📚 *Ghana at 69: Libraries Empowering Minds, Transforming the Nation*

🇬🇭 *Happy 69th Independence Day, Ghana!* 🇬🇭
Today, the Ghana Library Association proudly joins the nation in celebrating 69 years of freedom, resilience, and progress.
As custodians of knowledge and champions of literacy, libraries and information professionals continue to play a vital role in empowering citizens, nurturing lifelong learning, and supporting national development.
Together, we remain committed to building an informed society where access to knowledge inspires innovation, opportunity, and sustainable growth for all.
Happy Independence Day, Ghana! 🇬🇭📚
Long live our libraries! Long live our knowledge community! Long live Ghana! 🇬🇭

🎉🎂 *It’s a Special Day at GLA!* 🎂🎉

Today, the Ghana Library Association proudly celebrates our *distinguished Vice President* on his birthday!
We honour a leader whose wisdom, strategic direction, and unwavering dedication continue to strengthen our Association and inspire members across the regions. Your service to the profession reflects excellence, integrity, and visionary leadership.
As you begin another impactful year, may you experience greater achievements, sound health, and abundant joy.

🌟 Join us in celebrating!
*Kindly drop your birthday wishes in the comments below and let’s make this day extra special for our Vice President!* 🎉👇🏾

*Happy Birthday, Hon. Vice President!* 🎂✨

* *
* with impact*
* *
* *

— Believe Azanku
PRO, GLA.

🎉 *Appreciation & Congratulations, GLA Family!*🎉

A heartfelt thank you to all Ghana Library Association members for making this year’s AGM in Ho a truly inspiring and memorable one. Your active participation, insightful contributions, and unwavering commitment to the growth of our Association and the library profession made the event a great success.

We celebrate each one of you for your dedication and the vibrant energy you brought to the AGM. Together, we continue to shape a stronger, more innovative GLA!

As many of us journey back to our various destinations across the country, we pray for travelling mercies, safety, and God’s protection. May everyone arrive home safely.

Thank you once again, and let’s keep the momentum alive.

*GLA—Inspiring Innovation, Advancing Impact!*

🔥 **Excitement is in the air at UHAS, Ho!**
The **2025 GLA AGM** kicked off this morning with inspiring sessions, fresh ideas, and incredible energy from librarians across Ghana! 📚✨

We are diving deep into this year’s theme:
**Innovation for Impact – Libraries in the Age of AI & Social Technologies.**

Stay tuned for updates, highlights, and all the unforgettable moments.
**GLA is rising—let’s keep the momentum going!** 💙🇬🇭

Thanks for making us proud