When academic and research librarians from across Ghana gathered at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi for the 5th International Conference of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH), LIBSENSE Early Career Researcher (ECR) Champions used the opportunity to advance the conversation on open scholarship and the evolving role of libraries in research. Held as a preconference workshop, the event brought together about 150 librarians, researchers, and information professionals for an engaging exploration of the systems, policies, and practices needed to strengthen open science in Ghana’s research ecosystem. The workshop featured two complementary sessions. The first, Open Scholarship and Systems in Research Libraries: Roles and Opportunities, explored how academic and research libraries are evolving from being custodians of published materials into critical enablers of open science. Participants examined the practical responsibilities this transformation entails, including managing institutional repositories, curating research data, strengthening scholarly communication workflows, and adopting open-source technologies that increase the visibility and discoverability of locally produced research. Discussions highlighted the particular importance of open science for resource-constrained institutions, where open access to research is not simply an aspirational goal but a practical pathway to greater visibility, increased citations, stronger research impact, and broader international collaboration. The second session, Creative Commons and Open Licensing in a Changing Society, focused on the legal and policy dimensions of openness. Participants were introduced to the principles of Creative Commons licensing and learned how appropriate licensing enables the lawful sharing and reuse of research outputs while ensuring authors receive proper attribution. The session also provided practical guidance on selecting suitable licences and demonstrated how open licensing can maximise the value of research across teaching, policy, and future scholarship. The workshop generated lively discussions as participants reflected on the realities within their own institutions. Conversations centred on challenges such as limited awareness, policy gaps, and institutional barriers to open scholarship. By the end of the sessions, participants had gained practical knowledge, useful tools, and greater confidence to champion open science initiatives within their libraries, faculties, and institutions. The workshop was collaboratively designed and facilitated by members of the LIBSENSE community: Dr George Clifford Yamson, Mr Jonathan Seyram Agbamey, Dr Antonia Donkor, Dr Miriam Linda Akeriwe, Dr Amy P. A. Asimah, and Dr Dominic Agyei Dankwah. Their combined expertise reinforced the value of peer-led capacity building in advancing open scholarship across Africa. For many attendees, the workshop also served as their first introduction to LIBSENSE, its growing community of practice, its programmes, and its commitment to strengthening open science leadership and research collaboration across the African continent.
