The GEORGE PADMORE RESEARCH LIBRARY ON AFRICAN AFFAIRS was established in Accra, Ghana on June 30th 1961. The idea of a Research Library was conceived in 1959 immediately after the death of George Padmore, the noted Africanist and African Affairs adviser to the then President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. It was to be a monument to the ideals of Pan-Africanism and a memorial to George Padmore.

The Library is currently making every effort to update its holdings on Ghana, Africa and the African Diaspora. Please consider donating copies of relevant books, articles and collections.

Subject areas covered are anthropology, economics, geography, history and literature. The Library is designed to cater for the general public, but its users are officials from government and other departments, members of the diplomatic corps, students and researchers.

From a modest beginning of a thousand books from the Accra Central Library’s Local Collection, the library now has over 50,000 books, pamphlets and other monographs acquired through purchase, donations and exchange.

Please send your donations NOW to:

The George Padmore Library on African Affairs
P.O. Box 2970
Accra, Ghana

Or contact the Librarian via phone at: (233) 223526 / 228402 or via email at mikkiagyekum@yahoo.com

The Library’s Special Collections:

• NOMA COLLECTION. This is a unique collection of books published in Afrrica which have been submitted by various publishers in the book trade for consideration for the Noma Award, a $10,000 prize instituted by Shoichi Noma for outstanding works published in Africa and its offshore islands.
  
• PADMORE’S LIBRARY. The personal library of the late George Padmore is housed in the "Africa Room" and is made available to the general public.
  
• FILES OF THE BUREAU OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS.
  
• COLLECTION OF THE DRAMA STUDIO.
  
• LOCAL LANGAGE PUBLICATIONS
  

Over the years the Padmore Research Library has performed some of the essential functions of a National Library for the country, as well as being an Africana Library.

1. An Africana Library with special emphasis on Ghana
2. Acquisition, processing, preservation, documentation, accumulation of domestic and Africana materials and providing public access to them.
3. It is the National Bibliographic Agency and a Legal Depositing Library. It is the center for collection of literature originating from the creative and fertile intellect of Ghanaians.
4. Management of ISBN, ISSN and ISMN Systems.
5. Cooperation with foreign libraries and international exchange of materials.
6. Guidance and support for Library services and learning activities for other Libraries.
7. Compilation of special Bibliographies as a means for research.

Location:

The Library is situated in the "Ridge" area of Accra, near the junction of Fifth Avenue and Castle Road. There are three separate buildings. The first and oldest building is of contemporary architectural design and has an ornamental fishpond underneath an overhanging room. The second building is on the north of the first and houses the Africana Collection. The main entrance door to the "Africa Room" has a wooden sculptured panel on each side depicting the dissemination of information in Africa and the recording of oral tradition. A third block which enjoins the Africa Room houses the offices of the Librarian, Deputy Librarian, the Administrative Staff and a Staff Rest Room. Behind the building housing the Ghana Collection is a garden and a tomb which contains the mortal remains of the late George Padmore.

Hours:

AFRICA ROOM: MON. – FRI. 8.30 – 1800; SAT. 10.00 – 1700
GHANA COLLECTION: MON. – FRI. 8.30- 1700
HOLIDAYS: Closed on National holidays and Sundays.