The Best Museums to Visit in Ghana
There are plenty of opportunities to learn about Ghana’s fascinating past in the country’s museums, from its pre-colonial days right up to the present. Discover the culture of the Ashanti people, see authentic Ghanaian artworks and find out more about the city of Accra. Here are some of the best places to visit.
Ghana is renowned for its rich and beautiful cultural diversity, with dozens of ethnic groups with different beliefs and dispositions coexisting peacefully. The country is also one of the cornerstones of African history, being the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence.
The range of dynamic cultures to observe and learn about can be breathtaking but sometimes difficult to experience, especially in the cosmopolitan capital city, Accra. Visiting some of the major museums is the perfect way to begin a thorough cultural exploration of Ghana.
The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum
Memorial, Museum, Park
The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum
In 1957, Ghana won independence from the British and became a sovereign state, the first of its kind in the sub-region, taking control of its affairs, resources and development. Dr Kwame Nkrumah was one of the men at the heart of the struggle for independence, being the country’s first prime minister and president.
Following his death, this museum was built to honour his legacy and house his mortal remains, books, artefacts and other items linked to his life. Visitors are taken through the history of the pan-African struggle as well and gain first-hand knowledge of his contributions and that of other African leaders like Patrice Lumumba and Julius Nyerere.
It continues to be a major destination for tourists eager to understand the role of Ghana in shaping post-colonial history.
The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, High St., Accra, Ghana, +233 23 367 1610
Kwame Nkrumah was at the heart of the struggle for independence | © Guido Sohne
The National Museum
Museum
The museum is divided into three primary sections: Ethnography, Archaeology and Arts. The Arts section houses the works of famous Ghanaian contemporary artists like El Anatsui and Ablade Glover. You can also spend time in the museum’s splendid sculpture garden.
The Museum of Science and Technology
Museum, School, University
The Museum of Science and Technology
The Museum of Science and Technology is located just a few metres from the National Museum. It displays artefacts that embody Ghana’s scientific development, from pre-colonial times to the present. Visitors can find everything from primitive hand-axes and other simple farm tools to complex machinery like helicopters and bamboo bicycles, engineered and built by Ghanaians.
The museum also serves as the venue for the final exhibition for graduating students from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s School of Fine Art, where some of the finest contemporary fine arts and performance arts are on display.
The Museum of Science and Technology, Barnes Road, Accra Ghana, (+233) 302 223963
W.E.B. Du Bois Museum
Museum
His museum at the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre memorialises this relationship between Africans at home and the diaspora. Visitors can expect to find his books, speeches, pictures and other articles, as well as those of other key figures such as Marcus Garvey and George Padmore.
Manhyia Palace Museum
Museum
All in all, this is an excellent place to dive into the expansive wealth of knowledge that was born from the Ashanti empire.
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