The Osu Castle Presidential Museum of Ghana forms part of the legacy projects being put in place in celebration of Ghana’s 60th Independence Anniversary.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned Ghana’s former seat of government, the Osu Castle, as a Presidential Museum of Ghana, ahead of the country’s 60th Independence Day Celebration. The President had earlier instructed the Tourism Minister to transform the castle otherwise known as Christanborg to a presidential museum.
The Osu Castle Presidential Museum of Ghana forms part of the legacy projects otherwise known as national monuments being put in place in celebration of Ghana’s 60 years of independence. The museum is expected to serve as an archive and exhibition place for Ghana’s past leaders and their significant contributions to building the nation.
The ceremony which came off yesterday being Sunday the 5th of March, 2017 saw top government officials, diplomats, clergymen, traditional rulers, distinguished Ghanaians and students in attendance.
Speaking before the commissioning, President Akufo-Addo said that the presidential museum forms part of his government’s intention to pay special attention to the development and promotion of tourism. According to Nana Addo, the museum will house relics of past presidents which would be in form of presidential papers, artifacts, wax works and personal possessions such as books, clothes, artworks, etc.
All these are aimed at celebrating, honouring and living the memories of these past heroes, as well as availing present and future Ghanaians the opportunity to learn from their contributions and be inspired to contribute to nation building.
“The vision is to have a state of the art museum which would house presidential artifacts, presidential papers, wax works of our presidents. It would also have on display personal possessions of past leaders like books, artworks and items of clothing to allow us to honour them appropriately,” he said.
In addition to the Presidential Museum, Nana Addo commissioned an art exhibition themed, “Ghana: the Road to Independence”. This was to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. The President stressed that the Osu Castle is a perfect location for the museum and exhibition, seeing that it has been a historic building, having housed Ghana’s heads of states for many years.
Nana Addo expressed hopes that the exhibition will move Ghanaians to exploit their talents towards the development of the country in accordance with the theme of the 60th independence celebration – “Mobilising for the Future”. He then urged everyone to endeavour to patronize the facility on its completion, thereby learning about the country’s history.
At the moment, much attention is being drawn to “The Big Six”; and from all indications, they are to form the pillar of those being celebrated while subsequent leaders will follow suit.
The Big Six were six Ghanaian nationalists who played significant roles in earning independence for the country. They all belonged to the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), the leading political party in the British colony of the Gold Coast and include, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, Edward Akufo-Addo, Joseph Boakye Danquah, Kwame Nkrumah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, William Ofori Atta.
Also being showcased are legendary playwright and lawyer, Kobina Sekyi; Joseph Ephraim Caseley-Hayford, Paa Grant, and fine craftworks showing ordinary Ghanaians such as market women and farmers.
The President indicated that the Osu Castle Presidential Museum will also put on display, the room in which Queen Elizabeth II slept when she visited the country in 1960. He also said that book shops, research rooms and well groomed gardens will be put in place.
Furthermore, President Nana Addo instructed that the Tourism Minister form a forum that will work towards attracting investment into Ghana’s culture. The forum is expected to see to the revival of the country’s various forts and castles.
It will also look out for personalities both of Ghanaian and foreign descent who are worthy of commemoration. This is aimed at drawing the attention of both Africa, as well as other foreign communities in order to boost Ghana’s tourism.
The President however, noted that this vision can only be achieved through “investment, innovation, pursuit of service excellence and meaningful partnership”.
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