ATTA MILLS LIBRARY TO SEE FULL OPERATION IN THREE MONTHS’ TIME

The Prof. John Evans Atta Mills memorial library in Cape Coast which has been under lock for more than six years is set to be in full operation in three months’ time after going through some renovation.
At a short handing-over ceremony, Mr. Akwasi Agyemang, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTA, noted that all issues had been resolved to pave the way for the utilization of the library.
Mamdev Ghana Limited, the contractor in charge of the Prof John Evans Atta Mills Presidential Library in Cape Coast, has eventually handed the facility over to the government for renovation and commissioning.
The facility is now in the hands of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), and the Ghana Library Authority (GLA) who have resolved to get it running within three months.
The three institutions will work in close collaboration with other stakeholders, including the family of the late President, to raise the edifice to the standard of an ideal cultural and intellectual heritage center to promote tourism.
The one-story facility, sitting face-to-face with the Cape Coast Castle, was built, commissioned, and handed over to the University of Cape Coast (UCC) by the erstwhile Mahama Administration in honor of the late President.
The edifice has a conference hall, multimedia room, e-lecture halls, offices, reception, secretariat, VVIP Lounge, kitchen, museum, and roof terrace garden, among other facilities to enable it to function as a research and memorabilia hub for the late President.
But more than six years after the commissioning, the library has failed to work because the contractor held on to it chiefly due to the failure of the State to pay him for the work done.
Consequently, parts of the building have deteriorated with broken glass windows, corroded and non-functional air-conditioners, broken ceilings, and peeling paint on walls, among other challenges.
Mr Kingsley Agyei Boahene, the Chief Director of the Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC) who represented the Regional Minister at the handing-over ceremony, expressed joy over the green light to get the facility running.
According to him, it was in the Regional Minister’s plans to reactive the project as it aligned with the development agenda of the region.
Mr. Joseph Kojo Mamphey, the CEO of Mamdev Ghana Limited, apologized to the people of Cape Coast and Ghanaians for holding on to the library for the non-payment over the years.
He was however glad that his action and continuous stay in the ancient city had birthed the Green City project, which aims to transform Cape Coast.
He thanked the chiefs and people and all other stakeholders for their cooperation throughout the execution of the project.
Story by:
Kwamena Essumang