Accra: Mr Japhet Aryiku, the Executive Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, has expressed the Foundation's commitment to transforming the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre in Accra into a world-class museum complex. The state-of-the-art facility aims to promote a deeper understanding of African and African-American history.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Foundation released a statement following the 157th anniversary of the birth of W.E.B. Du Bois, the Pan-Africanist civil rights activist. Mr Aryiku announced that the Foundation plans to raise millions of dollars to develop the facility. The project includes renovating Dr Du Bois' bungalow and constructing a new memorial to house his remains.
The Foundation also plans to establish a modern museum to honour the lives and work of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois and his wife, Shirley Graham Du Bois. Mr Aryiku acknowledged the monumental nature of the project but reaffirmed the Foundation's determination to accomplish it. He highlighted the need to preserve the collection of books and papers by the prolific author, noting the partnership with the Library of Congress in the United States. This four-year agreement aims to provide technical support for restoration and conservation efforts.
The planned world-class research library will gather various works and make them accessible to scholars and the public. Representatives of the Foundation, the Du Bois family, and the governments of Ghana and the United States laid wreaths at the ceremony. Through exhibitions, research, and educational initiatives, the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation strives to inspire new generations to embrace and continue Du Bois' vision of justice, equality, and intellectual empowerment.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, emphasised the government's commitment to preserving and promoting Pan-Africanism. She highlighted the financial commitments made towards the Du Bois Centre's restoration and cited the modern Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park as an example of ongoing efforts to enhance Ghana's cultural heritage. She called for support for the Black Star Experience, the government's flagship tourism initiative.
