The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has thrown his full weight, and his personal chequebook, behind the ambitious redevelopment of the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture.
Describing the site as a priceless store of African history, the Speaker signaled a new era of institutional and personal commitment to preserving the continent’s intellectual heritage during a high-profile familiarization tour of the Accra facility.
The visit, prompted by an invitation from the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, sparked a moment of reflection for the Speaker. Bagbin, recalling his days as a student at the University of Ghana, noted that the facility was instrumental in his own understanding of African liberation.
“We used to come here to study some of the literature that abounds in this small space… If you don’t know history, you will never be wise,” Bagbin told the media.
In a rare move, the Speaker committed to more than just legislative advocacy, stating: “I will definitely have my support, not only by way of action. I will invest personally in this project.”
Mr. Japhet Aryiku, Executive Director of the Foundation, provided a breakdown of the massive transformation ahead. The project isn’t just a facelift; it’s a total reimagining of the site.
The redevelopment project is anchored by a massive $60 million infrastructure plan, with a long-term $200 million endowment goal to ensure its operational sustainability.
The timeline kicks off in April 2026 with the restoration of Dr. Du Bois’s historic bungalow, which is scheduled for completion and dedication by February 23, 2027.
Beyond the restoration, the site will be transformed into a world-class cultural hub featuring a modern museum dedicated to Du Bois’s 95-year legacy of social justice, a 50-room scholars’ residence for international researchers, a library, an amphitheater, and a comprehensive memorial complex.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, lauded the collaborative effort between President John Dramani Mahama’s administration and Parliament to transition the Centre’s management to the Foundation.
Minister Gomashie emphasized that for Ghana to remain the global hub of Pan-Africanism, the nation must honor its three giants—W.E.B. Du Bois, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and George Padmore—with equal prestige.
“We are blessed with three giants, and their status must be at par,” Gomashie stated, urging for balanced investment in their respective legacies to strengthen ties with the African diaspora.
