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W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation Marks 157 Years of the Du Bois Legacy
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On February 23, 2025, the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts, hosted a commemorative event marking the 157th anniversary of the birth of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois.
The ceremony, held at the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture in Cantonments, Accra, Ghana, featured reflections on his life and work, along with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony to honour his enduring contributions to Pan-Africanism, racial equity, and social justice.
The programme commenced with the arrival of the delegation led by Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff, who represented the President of the Republic, H.E. John Dramani Mahama.
The event opened with an invocation, followed by the Ghanaian National Anthem, setting the tone for an afternoon of insightful discussions and tributes.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie emphasised Ghana’s privilege and responsibility as custodians of the remains of great Pan-African figures like W.E.B. Du Bois.
She highlighted the Du Bois Center as a key cultural and historical site under her ministry, reaffirming the government’s commitment to preserving and promoting Pan-Africanism.
The minister acknowledged the alignment of this initiative with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto and her personal dedication to ensuring its success.
Expressing gratitude to all who have contributed intellectually, financially, and through advocacy, she noted the recent World Bank-funded renovation of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park as an example of ongoing efforts to enhance Ghana’s cultural heritage.
She welcomed the financial commitments made toward the Du Bois Center’s restoration and pledged to review previous plans to advance the project.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of the Black Star Experience, a flagship programme championed by her ministry, and called for collective support, prayers, and goodwill in fulfilling these goals.
In a moment of cultural reverence, she invited the audience to stand and applaud in honour of W.E.B. Du Bois on his 157th birthday, underscoring the significance of his legacy in shaping Ghana’s creative and cultural landscape.
Japhet Aryiku, the Executive Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, extended a warm welcome to all in attendance to all in attendance and clarified that the Government of Ghana had neither sold nor leased the Du Bois Centre land to the foundation.
He revealed that instead, the foundation has committed to raising millions of dollars to develop the facility for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.
He emphasised that under the agreement, the foundation is dedicated to restoring and renovating Dr. Du Bois’ iconic bungalow, with full funding already secured.
Mr.Aryiku further announced plans to construct a new memorial to house Du Bois’ remains, alongside a space for reflection and meditation, featuring an eternal flame. Additionally, a state-of-the-art museum will be established to honor the life and work of Dr. Du Bois and Shirley Graham Du Bois.
Given Du Bois’ extensive global contributions over his 95-year life, Aryiku acknowledged the monumental nature of the project but reaffirmed the foundation’s determination to accomplish it.
He also highlighted the critical need to preserve Du Bois’ extensive collection of books and papers, which are deteriorating due to Ghana’s humid climate.
To address this, the foundation has partnered with the Library of Congress under a four-year agreement to provide technical support for restoration and conservation efforts.
Mr.Aryiku expressed excitement about the upcoming construction of a world-class research library that will house these invaluable works, making them accessible to scholars and the general public.
Representatives from the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, the Du Bois family, the Government of the United States, and the Government of Ghana placed wreaths in his memory, accompanied by music that underscored the moment’s significance.
This was followed by remarks from Mr. Daniel Rose, Chairman of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, delivered by Dr. Deborah Rose.A distinguished panel shared reflections on the remarkable life and work of Dr. Du Bois.
Among the speakers were Odell Murry, Custodian of the Du Bois Legacy, Dr. Preston King, an American academic and civil rights activist, Dr. Whitney Battle-Baptiste, Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Center at UMass Amherst, Prof. Alhassan S. Anamzoya, Head of Sociology at the University of Ghana, Ramsey Ryan, Chief of Staff at the Library of Congress, and Jeffrey Peck, great-grandson of Dr. Du Bois. Each speaker shared powerful insights into Du Bois’ impact on civil rights, scholarship, and global Pan-African movements.
The event was also graced by the presence of several dignitaries and very important figures, including Hon. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Hon. Samia Yaba Nkrumah, H.E. Irchad Razaaly, European Union Ambassador to Ghana whose support and participation further emphasized the significance of this gathering.
The W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation remains committed to preserving Du Bois’ legacy and fostering education on Pan-Africanism and social justice. The gathering served as a powerful reminder of his lasting influence and the ongoing efforts to honor his contributions to global history.
The mission of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation is to honor the life of W.E.B. Du Bois and Shirley Graham Du Bois by transforming the W.E.B. Du Bois Center for Pan African Culture into a world-class museum complex, promoting a deeper understanding of African and African American history, and fostering global dialogue on racial equity, justice, and cultural heritage.
At the heart of its vision, the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation seeks to promote the study and appreciation of African and African-American heritage, history, and culture.
Through exhibitions, research, and educational initiatives, the foundation strives to inspire new generations to embrace and continue Du Bois’ vision of justice, equality, and intellectual empowerment. With a steadfast commitment to preserving historical narratives, the foundation works to ensure that Du Bois’ teachings and philosophy remain relevant in today’s society.
The Dagbon Kingdom on Friday witnessed another defining moment in its centuries-old history as Kampakuya Naa Yakubu was formally enskinned as Regent following the passing of the Overlord of Dagbon, Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II.
The traditional ceremony, steeped in the customs and heritage of the Dagomba people, took place at the historic Gbewaa Palace in Yendi in an atmosphere of grief, reverence and hope.
In attendance was President John Dramani Mahama, who in his tribute described the late Overlord as a distinguished traditional ruler whose leadership strengthened peace, unity and development in Dagbon.
Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia also conveyed his condolences to the people of Dagbon.
Also in attendance were chiefs, queen mothers, elders, royal family members, religious leaders and thousands of mourners gathered to witness the installation.
The enskinment of the Kampakuya Naa as Regent is one of the most significant stages in the transition of leadership in the Dagbon Kingdom. It ensures continuity of authority and the preservation of the kingdom’s customs until a substantive Ya-Na is selected by the kingmakers in accordance with Dagbon tradition.
Friday’s ceremony reflected the resilience of one of Ghana’s oldest traditional kingdoms, where centuries-old customs continue to guide leadership transitions with dignity and order.
The late Ya-Na, Ndan Abukari II, who ascended the skin in 2019, is widely remembered for consolidating peace, unity and reconciliation in Dagbon following years of chieftaincy disputes.
Throughout Yendi, the mood remained solemn as residents lined the streets while traditional drumming, chanting and customary rites echoed through the ancient capital. Men, women and children, mostly dressed in black, paid their respects to a monarch whose reign restored confidence in the kingdom’s future.
The installation of Kampakuya Naa Yakubu as Regent now places upon him the sacred responsibility of overseeing the affairs of Dagbon during the mourning period while ensuring that the customs and traditions of the kingdom are faithfully upheld ahead of the enskinment.
After a successful enskinment, attention now turns to the traditional processes that will eventually culminate in the selection and enskinment of a new Overlord. Until then, the Regent will serve as the custodian of the Dagbon Kingdom, ensuring that the customs, authority and dignity of one of Africa’s oldest traditional kingdoms remain intact.
From Geoffrey Buta, Yendi
The Ghana Health Service, with UNICEF support, has trained 100 healthcare providers on adolescent-friendly maternal healthcare services as it expands its Safety Net Intervention programme to 44 additional health facilities in the Central Region.
The one-day training, held in two sessions, equipped midwives, community health nurses, health information officers and district focal persons with the knowledge and practical skills needed to implement the initiative effectively and improve pregnancy outcomes among pregnant adolescents.
The Safety Net Intervention is a special initiative that seeks to address health and social challenges associated with adolescent pregnancy with a comprehensive service including antenatal and postnatal care, skilled delivery services, postpartum family planning, home visits and connections to education and social support services.
By this intervention, the GHS and UNCEF are seeking to mitigate the incidence of adolescent pregnancy, maternal deaths among adolescent girls, neonatal deaths among babies born to adolescent mothers, and child marriage.
They are also seeking increased uptake of postpartum family planning among adolescent mothers and improved educational continuity and economic resilience for adolescent girls.
Mrs Emma Delali Foli, the Central Regional Focal Person for the Safety Net Intervention, explained that pregnant adolescents often faced heightened health risks and limited social support, highlighting the need for specialised healthcare and social interventions.
She said the intervention was introduced in six districts in the Central Region in 2020 and had expanded steadily over the years to 16 of the region’s 22 districts.
Following the addition of the 44 new facilities, the programme was now being implemented in 176 health facilities, with a goal of covering all 22 districts in the short possible time, she added.
Mrs Foli noted that since its introduction, the programme had benefited more than 5,000 pregnant adolescents in the Central Region, while strengthening collaboration with institutions such as the Department of Social Welfare, the Ghana Education Service, the National Youth Authority and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU).
The intervention, she said, had also contributed to increased uptake of postpartum family planning, stronger referral systems, greater access to social protection services and enhanced involvement of caregivers throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
Mrs Foli indicated that the newly trained health workers were expected to replicate the training at their respective facilities to ensure that other members of the healthcare team were adequately equipped to implement the intervention.
“This is new to them and so they have been trained on the concepts, objectives and goals of the Safety Net Intervention. The components of the intervention, as well as the importance of documentation and reporting, have also been emphasised,” she said.-GNA
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