Books For Africa Executive Director Visits Partners in Ghana, Sierra Leone

Books For Africa Executive Director Patrick Plonski travelled overseas earlier this month for site visits with new and longstanding partners in Ghana and Sierra Leone. It was a chance to celebrate successful recent partnerships and discuss opportunities for new endeavors to get books to the continent. These site visits were intended to assess program delivery with BFA partners in Ghana and Sierra Leone and were conducted in partnership with the USAID Ocean Freight Reimbursement Program. 

In Accra, Plonski met with longstanding partner the Ghana Book Trust to see their operations, before also meeting with the Ghana Library Authority. In addition to presenting the GLA with a Merck Manual, Plonski also discussed the possibility of sending a shipment of medical books in 2025.

Also in Accra, Plonski visited Wisconsin International University college in Accra, Ghana, a recent recipient of brand-new high-level medical books supplied by BFA partner Elsevier in a shipment sponsored by Louis Brownstone, MSD and USAID. Plonski presented a Merck Manual to the University Vice President.

Another Ghanaian recipient of the same shipment of medical books was Knutsford University College in Accra, which has a robust nursing program. During his visit, Plonski presented a Merck Manual to the University President and to the Founder. USAID staff that helped finance this effort were also present. Additional sponsors were Louis Brownstone and MSD.

The U.S. Embassy in Ghana also hosted a visit by Plonski during his time in Accra.

Plonski also stopped in Sierra Leone to visit with longstanding partner the Sierra Leone Book Trust. This organization has received nearly 800,000 books from BFA since our partnership began in 2009, with assistance and sponsorship from Dick Simpson. Another shipment is planned for this spring.

Several of the organizations gifted commemorative plaques to BFA in recognition of the occasion.

Check out photos from the visit at our photo album or below!