Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin on February 9, 2026, led a high-level delegation to the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture in Accra as efforts intensify to restore and transform the facility into a world-class museum, research, and cultural complex.

The visit formed part of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation’s plans to preserve the centre and undertake a $200 million redevelopment project aimed at strengthening Ghana’s role in Pan-African scholarship and cultural heritage.

Executive Director of the Foundation, Japhet Aryiku, outlined proposals for restoration, preservation and long-term institutional development, with works expected to begin in April 2026 and completion targeted for February 2027.

Mr Bagbin described the Centre as a repository of Africa’s intellectual memory and stressed Ghana’s responsibility to safeguard Pan-African history and identity. He expressed support for transforming the facility into a global hub for research, education and cultural exchange.

The first phase of the project will focus on restoring Dr Du Bois’ historic bungalow, returning it to its original character while introducing careful modernisation. The restored building is expected to be dedicated in February 2027.

Plans for the broader complex include a new exhibition museum chronicling Dr. Du Bois’ life and work, a research library with rare books and archival materials, a scholars’ residence for visiting researchers, performance and cultural spaces, and a new mausoleum to honour Dr. Du Bois and his wife, Shirley Graham Du Bois.

During the visit, the delegation toured The Du Boises in Ghana exhibition, which documents the couple’s intellectual, cultural and political contributions during their years in the country. They also inspected the Centre’s archival holdings, including personal books, manuscripts, academic robes and rare publications.

Mr Aryiku noted that preservation and digitisation efforts are underway to protect fragile materials, alongside investments in professional conservation training, restoration partnerships and modern archival systems to ensure long-term public access.

Tourism Minister Dzifa Gomashie described the visit as professionally and personally significant and thanked the Speaker Bagbin, the foundation and President John Mahama for supporting the transfer of the centre’s stewardship to the Foundation. She emphasised positioning Dr. Du Bois alongside Kwame Nkrumah and George Padmore as key figures in Ghana’s Pan-African legacy.

Other attendees included former Tourism Minister Fritz Baffour, and Seth Ocran, President of the Ghana Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Association, reflecting the tourism and hospitality sector’s interest in the redevelopment.

As part of the restoration process, the foundation will temporarily close the Du Bois bungalow to allow conservation works to begin.