Accra, April 10, – The Dean of the Faculty of Art at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor kąrî’ kạchä Seid’ōu, has called on government to invest heavily in museums and art galleries as a way of preserving Ghana’s cultural heritage and strengthening the creative economy.
He argued that expanding such infrastructure would help protect historical artworks, promote tourism, and generate employment opportunities within the creative arts sector.
Prof Seid’ōu made the appeal during a media interview on the sidelines of a conference on the exhibition titled “One Man Does Not Rule a Nation” held in Accra.
The event, organised by the Foundation for Contemporary Art–Ghana in partnership with the TRAFO Centre for Contemporary Art in Szczecin, Poland, focused on the rediscovered “Sword Monument,” its connection to former President Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and Ghana’s post-independence artistic collaborations.
Discussions at the conference also examined lost public artworks, questions of collective memory, and cultural exchanges between Ghana and Poland, including the work of Polish sculptor Alina Ślesińska.
Supported by the European Union and Expertise France, the programme further explored how monuments are commissioned, preserved, and reinterpreted in modern societies.
Prof Seid’ōu warned that despite Ghana’s growing recognition in the global art scene, many historic works and sculptures remain vulnerable due to neglect and weak institutional protection.
He noted that contemporary achievements in the arts were built on foundations laid during the Nkrumah era, pointing to the international success of Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama as evidence of the country’s rising influence.
According to him, Ghana has reached a significant moment in its artistic development, but lacks the infrastructure needed to sustain and document that progress.
He therefore stressed the need for dedicated museums and galleries to provide safe spaces for artistic expression and education for future generations.
Prof Seid’ōu also urged stronger government backing for artists, saying sustained growth in the sector depends on deliberate public investment.
Co-Director of the Foundation for Contemporary Art–Ghana, Adwoa Amoah, also called for renewed interest in Ghana’s art history, noting that many important public works have been lost or forgotten.
She referenced a 2025 exhibition in Accra and Tamale which revisited the “Sword Monument,” originally commissioned in 1965 and believed to have disappeared after the 1966 political transition.
Ms Amoah said the missing monument continues to spark debate on cultural preservation and whether such works should be reconstructed.
She further highlighted concerns about the poor maintenance of public artworks in major cities such as Accra and Kumasi, urging authorities to prioritise their restoration as part of safeguarding national identity.
GHBUSS
10 April 2026
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