The Zuarungu Community Library would become the largest of its kind in the Upper East Region. This is according to Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East.
Dr. Ayine shared how a simple interaction with a young constituent during his campaign inspired the library’s construction.
In an interview on A1 Radio, Dr. Ayine recounted his early days campaigning for the parliamentary seat in his constituency. He emphasized the importance of connecting with the electorate by sharing his personal story—his journey from a shepherd boy to a scholar, fueled by the transformative power of education. He recalled walking long distances to the regional library in search of books, a narrative that became a cornerstone of his campaign.
“When I first came to the constituency to contest, I was well-known in Zuarungu Central, but not in other parts of the constituency. I needed to market myself. I did this by sharing my story—who I was, my credentials, and what I could do for them.”
During one campaign rally, a young man, now a nurse, raised a question that would shape the future of the constituency.
“He raised his hand and asked, ‘So when we elect you, do you also want us to keep walking from our community to Bukere to borrow books to read?’ I looked at him and said, ‘That won’t be the case. I’m going to build you a library.’ That’s how the idea for the Zuarungu Community Library came to me,” Dr. Ayine recounted.
The library project, born from that question, is now nearing completion. Although some final touches remain, including installing security features and stocking books, it is set to be the largest library in the Upper East Region once operational. “When we complete it, it’ll be the biggest library in the whole of the Upper East Region. And it all started from a question by a young man at a mini rally.”
Dr. Ayine detailed the journey to bring the library to life. He personally funded the library’s design with GH¢20,000. However, securing funding for the construction proved challenging. After initial setbacks with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), he used his legal expertise and connections to gain their support. The project faced further delays after a change in government in 2017, but Dr. Ayine’s persistence paid off when a friend’s company stepped in to fund its completion.
Through this initiative, Hon. Ayine highlighted the importance of not just making campaign promises but also delivering on them through hard work, strategic lobbying, and resource mobilization.
“This is how you market yourself as a politician—thinking on your feet. That day, I could have simply said, ‘I’ll look into it,’ but I told him categorically that I would build a library,” he explained. “When you campaign and market yourself positively, you must take the necessary steps to fulfill your promises. Some commitments may be beyond your capacity, but you need to lobby and engage ministries, departments, and agencies to gather the resources required. This has always been my approach.”
Source: A1Radioonline.com | 101.1Mhz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor | Bolgatanga
