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Labour Minister Pledges GHS 20,000 to Support Du Bois Centre Restoration
Accra, Ghana — Friday, March 27, 2026
The W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation invited Ghana’s Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Hon. Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, to visit the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture ahead of the restoration of the Du Bois Bungalow, which begins on April 1.
The purpose of the visit was for the Minister to see the current condition of the Centre before restoration works start.
Seeing the Current State of the Centre
The Minister was taken through the tomb of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, where he was briefed on the history and symbolism of the space. He then visited the Donor Recognition Wall and continued into the Du Bois Bungalow, where Dr. Du Bois and his wife, Shirley Graham Du Bois, lived after moving to Ghana in 1961 at the invitation of President Kwame Nkrumah.
Inside the bungalow, the Minister saw the fragile condition of over 5,000 books and archival materials. Many of the books contain handwritten notes by Du Bois himself. The aging structure and the condition of the materials clearly show why restoration is urgently needed.
Minister Reflects on the Legacy
After the tour, the Minister shared his thoughts.
“I am happy to be reconnecting with the past. A past shaped by a man who was far ahead of his time. A man whose thoughts and deliberations continue to guide us today,” he said.
He spoke about Du Bois’ fight for the rights of Black people and acknowledged that it was through President Kwame Nkrumah’s commitment that Du Bois spent his final days in Ghana.
“We must bring history back to life. We must preserve his thoughts, his actions, and his belief in the Black personality. His legacy should not remain in the past. It must guide our future,” he added.
The Minister expressed confidence in the Foundation and the direction it is taking.
“I have full confidence in this Foundation and in where it is heading. We will get there.”
In support of the project, he announced:
“I am making an initial donation of 20,000 Ghana cedis. It will not be the end of it. As the process continues and we stay engaged, we will continue to support.”
Linking Preservation to Jobs
During the visit, the Foundation also showed the Minister its Books Preservation Laboratory. This is where old and fragile books are protected and restored.
The Foundation explained that preservation work requires special skills such as archiving, digitizing, repairing books, and managing historical records. These skills can create job opportunities for young Ghanaians.
Two staff members are currently receiving training at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and will return to Ghana to help build local expertise.
Moving Forward
The Du Bois Bungalow will temporarily close on April 1 to allow restoration work to begin. This is the first major step in a broader plan to upgrade the Centre into a modern museum and research facility.
The Foundation says the goal is not only to protect history, but also to create opportunity for future generations.
Interested in supporting our cause?
Donate to the W. E. B. Du Bois Museum Foundation.