The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Library, in collaboration with the Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL) and  supported by the Department of Publishing Studies, has organised a two-day workshop on Open Journal System (OJS) for journal editors and research institutions in Kumasi. 

The workshop with the theme, “Promoting Open Access through Open Journal System”, offered participants the opportunity to be introduced to the software programme.

Mr. Richard Bruce Lamptey, Assistant Librarian of KNUST, in his opening remarks said the objective of the workshop was to create awareness and to encourage the use of OJS. He also stated that by using the OJS, the University could move to a level where local journals could be put online.

Dr. Smith Esseh, the Head of Department of Publishing Studies, and Mrs. Irene Nunoo who were the facilitators for the workshop introduced participants to Open Access and Open Journal Systems. It was an interactive session where participants from KNUST, the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Kumasi Polytechnic and the University of Education, Kumasi Campus had the opportunity to ask questions concerning the use of the software.

Dr. Helena Asamoah-Hassan, the University Librarian, in her closing remarks said she was privileged to see that the University had been introduced to the OJS in her time. She remarked that the OJS would enhance the visibility of local journals to the world at large. She thanked the facilitators and all the participants who made it a point to attend the workshop and urged them to work with the OJS.

The Open Journal System is a software developed to assist with every stage of the journal publishing process – submission, peer review, online publication and indexing – via a single web interface. It also supports scholars in bringing their new and existing papers to the web. Scholars are able to easily publish their academic research online.