We’re excited to share something special with our community—the Writers Project of Ghana (WPG) Collection is now part of the Los Angeles Public Library!
This growing collection is the result of a vibrant partnership between the Writers Project of Ghana and the Library—one that builds bridges between continents and brings African literature to the forefront for readers in Los Angeles and beyond. Through this collaboration, we’re proud to showcase the voices of Ghanaian authors and foster deeper cultural connections through storytelling.
Explore the Collection
You can now browse the WPG Collection online or check out physical books at its home branch, the Hyde Park Miriam Matthews Branch Library. Whether you’re looking for adult fiction, children’s stories, or books for young readers, there’s something here for every member of the family.
Search "Writers Project Ghana" to start exploring, or stop by the branch in person to dive into the collection yourself.
More Than Books: A Living, Breathing Literary Experience
This isn’t just a collection, it’s a conversation. It connects readers with living authors, their stories, and the worlds they create. Keep an eye out for future readings, author visits, and community events that bring these voices to life.
Past events have included The Book Bridge: Connecting Generations Through Literature, featuring Ghanaian authors Elizabeth-Irene Baitie, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, and Mamle Wolo. Moderated by educator Isaac Quist and archived on the Library's YouTube channel, and International Women’s Day Reading, curated by Mamle Wolo and featuring authors Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, Boakyewaa Glover, Petra Aba Asamoah, and Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah. This event was co-hosted by Amy Shimshon-Santo and A’bena Awuku-Larbi.
About the Writers Project of Ghana
Founded in 2009 by Martin Egblewogbe, Laban Carrick Hill (1950–2021), and Mamle Kabu, the Writers Project of Ghana champions literary culture in Africa and around the world. The organization believes in the power of stories to connect people and ideas, and that a thriving literary culture is essential to a thriving society. We recently spoke with Martin Eglewogbe about the Writers Project Ghana, and what it means to him:
What does the partnership with the Los Angeles Public Library mean for Writers Project Ghana?
Our partnership with the Library is a very important step forward for us at WPG. It represents the realisation of the dream of one of the founders of the Writers Project of Ghana, American writer (Laban Carrick Hill, d. 2021), who was especially keen on creating interconnections between US and Ghanaian writers. It is heartening to see this begin to happen through the partnership with the Los Angeles Public Library. By creating the WPG collection, the Library offers its readers an opportunity to enter the writing world of Ghanaian writers, enabling a critical exchange—it must be noted that American literature is widely available in Ghana.
How does WPG support the writers that you work with?
Our support for Ghanaian writers comes mainly in the form of opportunities for learning, networking, and mentoring. Through our workshops, we are able to connect new writers to more established ones, helping to pass on craft and techniques to the upcoming generation. We also have as a key part of our activities the showcasing of Ghanaian writing talent, which we do through the publication of collections of stories and poetry (we have published four books since 2011), and our long-running weekly radio show, which features readings and discussions on literature. By far the most popular activity of the Writers Project of Ghana is the literary festival Pa Gya! A Literary Festival in Accra, organised with the Goethe-Institut and the Foundation for Contemporary Art-Ghana. The 2025 edition is from 17 - 19 October.
Does WPG also work closely with libraries in Ghana?
WPG has collaborated mainly with the Library of Africa and The African Diaspora (LOATAD), a private library in Accra, on a number of their programmes.
Learn more about their work and read the Journal of the Writers Project of Ghana (JWPG)—featuring original work from Ghanaian writers, African voices, and international authors writing from or about Ghana—at www.writersprojectghana.com.
About the Hyde Park Miriam Matthews Branch Library: This branch is named in honor of Miriam Matthews, California’s first Black librarian and a pioneering figure in library history. You can learn more about her legacy at the UCLA archives and by visiting the branch, which continues to celebrate her contributions through community programs and cultural events.