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Celebrating the 129th Anniversary of the birth of Shirley Graham Du Bois, a Pan-Africanist
Born on November 11, 1896, Shirley Graham Du Bois was a pioneering African American writer, composer, historian, and civil rights activist whose voice helped shape the cultural and political landscape of the twentieth century.
In 1961, she traveled to Ghana with her husband, the legendary scholar and Pan-Africanist Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois, at the invitation of President Kwame Nkrumah. While Dr. Du Bois laid the intellectual foundation of Pan-Africanism, Shirley gave it rhythm, colour, and voice.
She played a key role in introducing television to Ghana and worked closely with President Kwame Nkrumah to build a new national broadcast identity.
She later became Ghana’s first woman to direct the nation’s television service (Ghana Television), using
media to celebrate African identity and independence.
In her own right, Shirley set remarkable records. She was the first African American woman to write and produce an all-Black opera, Tom-Tom: An Epic of Music and the Negro (1932).
She was also among the first Black women to earn a master’s degree from
Oberlin College and one of the earliest to publish widely read biographies of Black heroes such as Frederick Douglass and Paul Robeson.
Her books were later included in U.S. school curricula in the 1940s.
Her final years were spent in China, where she continued to champion peace and equality until her passing in 1977.
Today, her ashes rest beside her husband’s at the W. E. B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture in Accra, a lasting symbol of their shared dream of a united and liberated Africa.
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The ECOWAS Council of Ministers has unanimously endorsed President John Dramani Mahama as West Africa’s sole candidate for the Chairperson of the African Union when the rotating position gets to the region in 2027.
The endorsement was announced at the ninety-fifth ordinary session of the Council in Abuja on 12 December 2025.
The Authority of Heads of State and Government is expected to adopt the recommendation on Sunday.
In a declaration issued after the meeting, the Council noted that Ghana remains an important member of the regional bloc and continues to contribute to ECOWAS’ international standing.
It stressed the need for member states to work together to secure top positions for West Africans in continental and global organisations.
The Council explained that adopting a unified stance would help ECOWAS protect and promote its interests within the African Union.
It therefore recommended that the Heads of State fully back Ghana’s bid for the AU chairmanship.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Education Service has released all outstanding feeding grants for Special Schools across the country.
The funds cover the third term of the 2024/2025 academic year and the first term of the 2025/2026 academic year.
GES has also cleared all arrears owed Senior High Schools and Senior High Technical Schools for perishables supplied between 29 July and 17 October 2025.
According to the Service, the money has been transferred into the accounts of all beneficiary schools.
Heads of Special Schools, SHS and SHTS have been asked to submit official receipts for the funds through their Regional Accountants to the Director General.
The Public Relations Unit in a statement noted that GES remains committed to supporting effective teaching, learning and inclusive education in the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
