ACCRA, GHANA — 2 October 2026 — The Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) and the AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation (AfYEF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development of the proposed John Dramani Mahama Presidential Library & Legacy Centre (JDM-PLLC).
The agreement marks a significant step towards establishing a knowledge, heritage and youth-development institution in Northern Ghana.
The MOU was signed at the Board Room of the Ghana Library Authority’s Head Office in Accra on Friday, October 2, 2026, bringing together Ghana’s national library institution and a continental youth-focused organisation.
The partnership is expected to provide professional and institutional support for the library, archives, research and knowledge-preservation components of the proposed centre.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, AfYEF President and Founder, Chief Siita Sofo Hissan, emphasised the need for deliberate and strategic development to address regional disparities.
“Development must be deliberate if we are to bridge the development gap between the North and South,” he said.
Chief Siita said the partnership with the Ghana Library Authority reflects a broader development approach for Northern Ghana, one that goes beyond physical infrastructure to place education, knowledge, heritage, digital skills, technology and economic opportunity at the centre of regional transformation.
He described the JDM-PLLC as a proposed permanent, non-partisan institution designed to connect historical legacy with knowledge, learning, enterprise and opportunities for young people.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Library Authority, Mr Alhassan Ziblim Bentitiche, also highlighted the importance of institutional collaboration in strengthening Ghana’s library and knowledge ecosystem.
Under the agreement, the two organisations will collaborate in areas including library development, professional and technical support, archives and historical preservation, digitisation, public access to information, knowledge management, research and institutional sustainability.
The partnership will also cover cultural heritage and the preservation of knowledge, providing a professional framework for the development of the proposed library and archival facilities.
From Legacy To Opportunity
The JDM-PLLC is being advanced through AfYEF as a proposed permanent, non-partisan institution aimed at preserving historical knowledge and the legacy associated with former President John Dramani Mahama, while creating opportunities for young people in Ghana, Africa and the wider global African community.
Its guiding philosophy is captured in the theme:
FROM LEGACY TO OPPORTUNITY
Preserve the Legacy.
Develop Knowledge.
Empower People.
Inspire the Future.
The proposed centre is expected to combine library and archival facilities with research, leadership development, digital technology, cultural heritage and tourism-related programmes.
The wider concept includes a Presidential Library and Archives, Presidential Institute, Research and Knowledge Centre, Digital Library and Archives, Conference and Leadership Centre, African Youth Fellowship, Northern Ghana Museum, and a Youth Development and Skills Training Centre.
Broad Stakeholder Engagement
The initiative has been developed through consultations and engagements with public institutions, traditional authorities, academic and knowledge institutions, development organisations and other stakeholders.
Institutions currently associated with the initiative include the Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly, Bole District Assembly, Bole Traditional Council, Ministry for Youth Development & Empowerment, National Commission on Culture (NCC), USAfrica Caribbean Exchange (UACE), University for Development Studies (UDS) and the Ghana Library Authority.
The wider stakeholder engagement also includes the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, Jobs & Employment, traditional authorities across Northern Ghana, as well as African and diaspora organisations.
According to the project’s media brief, more than 50 individuals and institutions have endorsed or expressed support for the initiative.
The project says this includes traditional authorities in Northern Ghana, public officials, ministers and representatives of academic, development and community institutions.
The initiative, which began a little over three years ago, has involved stakeholder consultations, institutional engagements and development work aimed at establishing the foundations for the proposed centre.
The Ghana Library Authority MOU represents another step in that process, particularly in strengthening the professional and institutional framework required for the library, archives and knowledge components of the project.
Connecting Heritage With Economic Opportunity
Beyond its educational and cultural objectives, the JDM-PLLC is being positioned as part of a wider development vision for Northern Ghana.
AfYEF says the initiative seeks to connect heritage and knowledge infrastructure with opportunities in employment, entrepreneurship, tourism and local economic activity.
The project’s development concept is expressed through the chain:
HERITAGE → KNOWLEDGE → TOURISM → JOBS → SMEs → LOCAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY → COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The initiative seeks to complement existing tourism and cultural assets in Northern Ghana, including Mole National Park, Larabanga and other historical and community-based destinations.
The project’s tourism framework identifies potential opportunities in hospitality, transport, tour operations, food, crafts, culture, creative industries, events and youth enterprise.
The objective is to create an environment where increased interest in heritage and knowledge can also generate opportunities for local businesses and communities.
National Launch Set For November
Following the signing of the MOU, the JDM-PLLC is expected to proceed towards its planned official national launch on November 30, 2026.
The launch is expected to formally present the project’s development journey to the public and mark the beginning of the next phase of founding-partner mobilisation, fundraising, masterplanning and capital development.
National Launch
Date: Monday, November 30, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Venue: UDS Multipurpose Auditorium / Great Hall
Location: Tamale, Ghana
The event is expected to bring together public institutions, traditional authorities, universities and researchers, corporate Ghana, development partners, financial institutions, African institutions, diaspora organisations, philanthropists, the media and young people.
According to the project’s media brief, the launch will mark the transition from the development and stakeholder-endorsement phase into the founding-partner, fundraising, masterplanning and development phase.
About The JDM-PLLC
The John Dramani Mahama Presidential Library & Legacy Centre was founded by Chief Siita Sofo Hissan and is being advanced through the AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation.
The proposed institution is intended to serve as a permanent, non-partisan legacy, knowledge, research, cultural and youth-development institution serving Ghana, Africa and the wider global African community.
The project is not a Government of Ghana-funded initiative. According to the project, it is privately initiated and is being advanced through AfYEF, its partners, investors, philanthropists and development partners.
About The Partners
AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation (AfYEF) is a continental youth-focused organisation working to mobilise young entrepreneurs and promote trade, entrepreneurship and private-sector participation under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) is Ghana’s national library institution responsible for the development and management of public library services and the promotion of reading, learning and access to information.
The signing of the MOU between the two institutions provides a framework for continued collaboration as the JDM-PLLC moves towards its proposed national launch and the next stage of development.
Media Contact:
Office of the President / Communications Directorate
AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation (AfYEF)
Email: press@afyef.org
Website: afyef.org
FROM LEGACY TO OPPORTUNITY
Preserve the Legacy.
Develop Knowledge.
Empower People.
Inspire the Future.
