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Speaker of Parliament leads delegation to Du Bois Centre as Museum Foundation begins heritage restoration
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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.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mrs Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the two-day nationwide cleanup exercise, describing it as a major step towards tackling flooding and poor sanitation, while warning that authorities would clamp down on persons who continued to pollute the environment and obstruct waterways.
The Minister made the remarks after touring some of the region’s worst flood-affected communities, including Nungua, Alajo, Tse Addo and Apenkwa on Friday, and Alajo, Madina and Abelemkpe on Saturday, to assess the progress of the nationwide sanitation campaign.
She said the exercise had significantly improved the condition of drains and waterways in the affected communities and demonstrated what could be achieved when government institutions and residents worked together towards a common goal.
Mrs Ocloo commended the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Cleanup Assistance Trust, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), sanitation workers, volunteers and residents for their commitment and support throughout the exercise.
She said their collective efforts had contributed immensely to the successful removal of refuse, silt and other materials that had blocked drains and increased the risk of flooding in many parts of the region.
The Minister noted that the quantity of waste removed from drains and waterways had exceeded the expectations of the organisers, describing the situation as a reminder of the need for residents to adopt responsible waste disposal practices.
Mrs Ocloo stressed that environmental sanitation remained a shared responsibility and should not be left to government or the assemblies alone.
She urged residents to make cleanliness part of their daily lives by properly disposing of refuse, keeping drains free from waste and discouraging practices that degraded the environment.
The Minister cautioned that the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, in collaboration with the MMDAs and the security agencies, would intensify the enforcement of sanitation regulations against individuals and businesses that dumped refuse into drains, built on waterways or engaged in activities that contributed to flooding.
She said authorities would also undertake targeted demolition exercises to remove structures that obstructed the natural flow of water where necessary, adding that such measures were essential to protecting lives and property.
Mrs Ocloo further warned traders and market operators against ignoring directives issued during sanitation exercises, stating that those who defied official instructions in future risked having their goods confiscated.
She disclosed that more than 300 additional trucks had been deployed during the exercise to transport the huge volumes of waste generated after the initial fleet proved inadequate for the scale of work across the region.
The Minister said relief items had already been distributed to all 27 flood-affected districts through the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, while contingency funds approved by the President had supported ongoing desilting, dredging and other emergency interventions.
Mrs Ocloo assured residents that the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council would sustain the clean up campaign through continuous monitoring, public education and stricter enforcement of sanitation laws.
She appealed to residents to maintain the momentum created by the exercise, saying a cleaner, safer and flood-resilient Greater Accra could only be achieved if every citizen accepted responsibility for protecting the environment.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
The Executive Director of Human Resource Intermediaries Ghana Limited, Dr Dorcas Beeko Mangesi, has been honoured as the Most Outstanding Female in HR Outsourcing and Business Easing at the 12th Feminine Ghana Achievement Awards 2026.
Receiving the award, Dr Mangesi expressed excitement over the recognition, describing it as an acknowledgement of her contributions to the human resource outsourcing industry.
She explained that Human Resource Intermediaries Ghana Limited is an HR outsourcing firm that manages workers on behalf of companies and also provides recruitment and training services.
According to her, the award reflects the impact of her work over the years and motivates her to do even more.
“I have contributed a lot to the industry and for me to be recognised at this level shows that the work I have done over the years has been recognised,” she said.
Dr Mangesi noted that this was her first time receiving such an award and also her first participation in the Feminine Ghana Achievement Awards.
She described the recognition as unique because it serves as a personal brand and highlights the achievements of women in leadership positions.
According to her, the award is also a symbol of women empowerment and should inspire young women to pursue their careers with determination.
She urged young girls to take their education seriously, remain focused and work hard despite the challenges women often face in the corporate world.
She observed that although men continue to dominate many areas of business, women who remain committed and give their best can rise through the ranks and earn recognition.
“I am an example. I am speaking from experience,” she said.
Dr Mangesi expressed appreciation to the organisers of the awards for recognising her work in the HR outsourcing industry.
She thanked her team members for their support, saying their efforts contributed to her success.
In addition, she expressed gratitude to her husband for his encouragement throughout her career and thanked everyone who has supported her journey.
By: Jacob Aggrey
