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Speaker of Parliament leads delegation to Du Bois Centre as Museum Foundation begins heritage restoration
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on Monday, February 9, 2026, led a high-level delegation on a working visit to the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture in Cantonments, Accra, following a formal invitation by the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation.
The delegation was received by the Foundation’s Executive Director, Japhet Aryiku, who led engagements outlining the Foundation’s mandate and the next phase of work at the Centre, including restoration, preservation, and long-term institutional development plans.
The visit coincides with the commencement of a new phase of restoration and transformation efforts at the Du Bois Centre, following the Government of Ghana’s mandate granting the Foundation stewardship and operational management of the site.
These efforts form part of a long-term programme to preserve and advance the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois through the development of a world-class museum, research, and cultural complex.
A Visit of Memory, Commitment, and National Purpose
During the tour and subsequent media engagement, the Right Honourable Speaker described the visit as both reflective and deeply affirming of Ghana’s responsibility to Pan-African history and identity.
Speaking as a student of history, he underscored the Du Bois Centre as a repository of Africa’s intellectual memory and a foundational site in the continent’s journey toward self-definition and liberation.
He emphasized that history remains essential to wisdom and national progress, noting that Africa’s future must be firmly anchored in an understanding of its past, cultural identity, and intellectual inheritance.
The Speaker described the transformation of the Du Bois Centre as a potential global turning point for Pan-African scholarship and engagement, and reaffirmed his full support for the project.
He further pledged his personal commitment and encouraged broad institutional and public support for the Foundation’s vision.
Restoration and Institutional Development
In outlining the scope of work, the Executive Director explained that the immediate phase will focus on the careful restoration of Dr. Du Bois’ historic bungalow, returning it to its original character with sensitive modernization.
Restoration works are expected to commence in April 2026, with the restored bungalow projected to be dedicated in February 2027.
Beyond the bungalow, the Executive Director detailed plans for a comprehensive museum complex that will include a new exhibition museum chronicling the ninety-five-year life and work of Dr. Du Bois; a research library housing rare books, manuscripts, and archival materials; a scholars’ residence for visiting researchers from across the world; performance and cultural spaces for Pan-African artistic expression; and a new mausoleum to honour Dr. Du Bois and his wife, Shirley Graham Du Bois.
He noted that the project represents not only a heritage intervention, but a long-term investment in education, research, and global Pan-African cultural exchange.
Exhibition and Archival Preservation Efforts
As part of the visit, the delegation was taken through The Du Boises in Ghana exhibition, which documents the lives and work of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois and Shirley Graham Du Bois during their years in Ghana.
The exhibition highlights their intellectual, cultural, and political contributions, and situates Ghana as a central space in their Pan-African journey.
The delegation also inspected the Centre’s archival holdings, including Dr. Du Bois’ personal library, manuscripts, academic robes, and rare publications.
The Executive Director outlined ongoing book preservation and digitisation efforts aimed at safeguarding these materials, many of which are fragile due to age and environmental exposure.
He noted that the Foundation is investing in professional conservation training, restoration partnerships, and modern archival systems to ensure long-term access for researchers, students, and the public.
Government Support and National Significance
The Honourable Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, who joined the delegation, described the visit as both professionally and personally significant.
She expressed appreciation to the Speaker, the Foundation, and the President of the Republic of Ghana for supporting the agreement that formally transferred stewardship of the Du Bois Centre from the Ministry to the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation.
She highlighted the importance of positioning Dr. Du Bois alongside Kwame Nkrumah and George Padmore as Ghana’s Pan-African giants, noting that their legacies must be preserved and presented with equal dignity as Ghana consolidates its role as a global hub of Pan-Africanism.
Also present at the visit were other notable guests, including Fritz Baffour, a former Minister for Tourism, and Seth Ocran, President of the Ghana Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Association (GHATOF), underscoring the tourism and hospitality sector’s interest in and alignment with the Centre’s restoration and redevelopment agenda.
Stakeholder Engagement and Next Steps
As part of the restoration process, the Foundation will announce the temporary closure of the Du Bois bungalow to allow for careful conservation works to begin.
This initial phase marks a critical step toward safeguarding the historic fabric of the site while laying the foundation for future development.
In recognition of the national significance of the project, formal invitations have been extended to H.E. President John Dramani Mahama; H.E. Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang; the Chief of Staff; the entire Cabinet; and the Chief Justice.
The Speaker’s visit forms part of the Foundation’s broader stakeholder engagement efforts aimed at fostering transparency, national ownership, and institutional collaboration as restoration works begin and long-term development plans are rolled out.
About the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation
The W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation remains committed to preserving the historical integrity of the Du Bois Memorial Centre while positioning it as a living Pan-African space for education, research, and cultural exchange for generations to come.
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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