Ghana Gov’t and W.E.B Dubois Museum Foundation sign MoU redevelop the W.E.B Dubois Memorial Centre into museum

The W. E. B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, a New York-based non-profit organization, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Ghana to build an international Museum Complex celebrating the life, works and ideals of the revered intellectual and Pan-Africanist, Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois.
The W. E. B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan African Culture was dedicated in 1985 to serve as a memorial and final resting place for the “Father of Pan Africanism” Dr. Du Bois. The interest and dedication of the W. E. B. Du Bois Museum Foundation to revise the current Du Bois Memorial Centre into a Museum Complex as a destination for scholars, artists and heritage tourists alike, has spanned over years of negotiations with successive Governments of Ghana.

The signing of the MOU on Thursday 15 October 2020 marks the formal process to refine the agreement and allows for construction to begin. The Final Agreement will spell out the ownership, stakeholders and other related parties using the current Centre as the building block upon which to expand to meet the current goals of an internationally recognized heritage destination. The Museum Foundation Board is in the final discussions with a world-acclaimed architect.

The Honorable Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Barbara Oteng Gyasi, signed the document on behalf of the Government of Ghana and expressed confidence that this agreement is a continuation of the Ghanaian government’s, “Year of Return” and its sequel “Beyond the Return” campaigns, which will enhance those concepts with the return of the Diaspora from around the world.

Among the dignitaries in attendance at the signing ceremony were Christopher J. Lamora, Charge d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Ghana; Head of the Diaspora African Forum,  Ambassador Dr. Erieka Bennett; members of the African American Association of Ghana and representatives from David Adjaye Associates. Executive Director, Japhet Aryiku, was present in Accra to sign on behalf of the Museum Foundation. The Board Members of the Museum Foundation, including its Chair, Mr. Daniel Rose, and President, Ambassador Harold E. Doley, Jr., all joined the signing ceremony via Zoom.

ABOUT THE W. E. B. DU BOIS MUSEUM FOUNDATION
The W. E. B Du Bois Museum Foundation is a Delaware incorporated non-profit organization established in 2019, with the exclusive mission of honoring the life, purpose, and legacy of the celebrated Father of Pan-Africanism, W.E. B Du Bois.
Currently headquartered in New York City, the Foundation has the following Board Members:
Daniel Rose, Chairman; Ambassador Harold E. Doley Jr., President; Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Director of the Du Bois Institute and the Hutchins Center at Harvard University; Kwame Anthony Appiah, a renowned philosopher and Professor at New York University; Emmanuel Akyeampong, Director of the Center for African Studies at Harvard University; and Deborah Rose, President of Helping Africa Foundation, and visiting scholar at Harvard University’s FXB Center for Health & Human Rights.

INQUIRIES CAN BE FORWARDED TO:
Japhet Aryiku, Executive Director
W. E. B Du Bois Museum Foundation, 777 Third Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017 USA
Email: japhet@webduboismuseumfoundation.org
Telephone: +1.917.648.4652 (USA); +233.275.41.9221 (Ghana)
Website: www.webduboisemuseumfoundation.org