National Museum of Ghana - Children
Newly refurbished museum.
A national museum or city museum plays an essential role in a person’s identity. It’s the ‘official’ telling of its story. In a country that has only existed as a unified independent state since 1957, it’s all the more important. For the visitor, it should be the first stop to get an understanding of the context of the place, especially one as complex as Ghana. Amazing then, that it remained closed for so long, but thankfully it’s open again, and with heart. Unity in Diversity is the theme of the museum, or perhaps what it is celebrating. Within the straight borders of Ghana are a diverse range of ethnic groups, now brought together under the green, gold and red black star flag. This museum is broken into four sections, each focussing on a different part of the journey of the people of this land, ‘Beginnings’, looks at prehistory and the archaeological evidence of early human occupation. ‘States’ show how the many ethnic groups continue as states today, despite the inter-ethnic wars that blighted the country. ‘Kingdoms’ focuses on the cultural practices and rituals, and the varying rights of passages that each kingdom employs. Finally, the museum examines the idea of nation, the struggle for independence and the realisation of a successful and peaceful nation-state of Ghana. Start your trip to Ghana here, and then walk into the loud, dusty streets with a big smile and wonder at the beauty of its people.
