Ziblim Alhassan replaces Hayford Siaw as GhLA Executive Director

The central government has appointed Mr Ziblim Alhasaan as the Acting Executive Director of the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA). He replaces the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Mr. Hayford Siaw.

Following his appointment, the newly appointed Ghana Library Authority Director, Mr. Ziblim Alhassan, was formally introduced to staff today during a brief ceremony held at the Authority’s Head Office in Accra.

In his remarks, Mr. Alhassan expressed his gratitude to the Management and staff for the warm reception and reaffirmed his commitment to building on the progress made in transforming public libraries nationwide.

The Staff, on their part, received him with enthusiasm and pledged their full support as the Ghana Library Authority continues its objective to promote literacy, lifelong learning, and inclusive access to information for all.

Similarly, a handing-over ceremony was held at the Ghana Library Authority Head Office in Accra between the immediate past Ghana Library Authority Director, Mr. Hayford Siaw, and the newly appointed Executive Director, Mr. Ziblim Alhassan.

The handing over ceremony took place during a meeting with the Heads of Units and Directorates.

Relatedly, Mr. Israel Yao Dzantor has officially assumed office as the Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Ghana Library Authority, following his appointment by His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama.

He was formally introduced to the GhLA staff on Tuesday, May 28, 2025. As the first to hold this position in many years, Mr. Dzantor pledges to build on the sacrifices of staff and usher GhLA into the knowledge industry era.

He called on staff to offer their full cooperation and support to the new Deputy Executive Director, emphasising that collective effort is key to achieving sustainable results.

During the meeting, Mr. Dzantor expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and acknowledged the enduring contributions of GhLA staff across the country.

“I have witnessed firsthand the commitment of GhLA staff to the mandate of this institution,” he said. “Together, we will build on the strong foundation already laid and position GhLA as a central player in Ghana’s knowledge economy.”

He outlined a vision centered on transformation, innovation, and inclusivity. Among his top priorities is the digitalization of all children’s libraries across the country to make learning more engaging, accessible, and future-ready.

The newly appointed Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Ghana Library Authority also pledged to support efforts aimed at improving the working conditions of staff, noting that a motivated workforce is essential to delivering quality public services.

“My goal is to assist the transition of the Ghana Library Authority from existing in the information era to becoming a central player in Ghana’s knowledge industry. We need to empower our people with access to refined, usable knowledge,” Yao said.

He holds a Master of Arts in Information Studies from the University of Ghana and is currently pursuing a PhD in Information Science at the University of South Africa. He is also a published writer with works focused on Ghana’s political history and democratic development.

Profile of Ziblim Alhassan

Ziblim Alhassan is a policy researcher, development practitioner, and monitoring and evaluation expert with experience in both public and nongovernmental sectors. I have experience conducting development and advocacy-related research in Europe and Africa.

About Ghana Library Authority

The Ghana Library Authority, established in 1950 as the Ghana Library Board, was the first public library service in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Ghana Library Authority is the oldest institution providing national library services in sub-Saharan Africa. Set Up by the Ghana Library Board Act – 1970 (ACT 327).

The public library movement in Ghana began in 1928, as a personal effort of the then Anglican Bishop Orfeur Anglionby of Accra.

In 1946, the Aglionby Library Management Committee worked with the British Council Advisory Committee towards library development in the then Gold Coast.

In 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed a Ghanaian Social Entrepreneur, Hayford Siaw, as GhLA Chief Executive Officer

In May 2021, the Authority was shortlisted for the LBF International Excellence Awards in the ‘Library of the Year’ Category.

The mandate of the Ghana Library Authority is to establish, equip, maintain and manage public libraries in Ghana.