The Ghana Book Trust (GBT) is a Ghanaian non-governmental organisation which in collaboration with its Canadian partner, the Canadian Organisation for Development through Education (CODE), supports the continuous professional development for teachers through its Teaching of Reading Programme which in turn improves the literacy skills of children.
Our History
The Ghana Book Trust (GBT) was established in 1990 by CODE, a Canadian non-governmental organization, as its counterpart agency to facilitate and support educational programmes. CODE provided the initial financial assistance for the establishment of temporary office facilities. The Ministry of Education later provided land for a permanent distribution centre and funding from DANIDA enabled GBT to construct the centre on the site.
Initially, GBT’s programming focused on the distribution of North American donated books provided by CODE through its affiliate the International Book Bank. These books included textbooks, reference books, curriculum planners for teachers and supplementary readers, which were made available to primary schools, secondary and post-secondary institutions and libraries. Among the early beneficiaries of CODE’s support in Ghana were the Accra Technical Training Centre, the Ghana National Association of Teachers, the National Catholic Secretariat, the Ghana Library Board, the Universities, the Ghana National Commission on Children, the Voluntary Adults Literacy and Vocational Education (VALVE) and the Military Hospital, as well as, a number of schools throughout the country.
As GBT became more established, it obtained books from a variety of other sources including Book Aid International, the Sabre Foundation, and Books for Africa. Over 20 containers of books a year were received and distributed by GBT to beneficiaries across Ghana at the time.
Since 2001, GBT has evolved to include more focused programming which supports children’s literacy while at the same time continuing to help meet the huge demand there is in Ghana to provide donated books in support of education. The donated Book Programme also serves to assist the organization’s cash flow thus enabling it to expand its programming into the establishment of more libraries and reduce the organisation’s reliance on external funding for administration costs.
CODE remains the principal funder of GBT programmes.
Recognition of GBT
- GBT’s contribution to education was recognised by Ghana’s Parliament in 2004.
- GBT also received the Ghana Book Award from the Ghana Book Development Council in 1999 for being the Best in Library Development for its immense support in the development of libraries and the publishing industry in Ghana.
- GBT was recognised in 2006 by the Coca Cola Bottling Company Gh. Ltd. for its Outstanding Support to The Coca Cola National Essay Writing Competition.
- GBT is recognised by other literacy based NGOs like IRead Ghana, Insight Foundation and OLE Ghana for supporting the reading culture of children.