Government Accused of Leasing W.E.B. Du Bois Centre to Private Entity for 50 Years

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has raised allegations against the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, claiming they have leased the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre to a newly incorporated private entity, the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation Ghana LBG., for 50 years.

In a social media post on July 10, Ablakwa disclosed that the agreement, signed on September 22, 2023, by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, grants the foundation extensive control over the management of the Du Bois Centre. This includes appointing a majority of six board members and the board chairman, significantly limiting the Government of Ghana to only three appointees.

Ablakwa criticized the agreement, highlighting concerns over the foundation’s lack of a track record and the perceived imbalance in governance structure, where the private entity holds disproportionate control over the national heritage site.

The move has sparked controversy and calls for transparency regarding the terms and implications of the lease agreement, as the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre, a symbol of cultural heritage, falls under private management for the foreseeable future.