The National Museum

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The National Museum, located at No. 2 Barnes Road in Central Accra, was opened on 5th March 1957, the eve of Ghana’s Independence. The National Museum has three main galleries: these deals respectively with Ghana’s past; her traditions; and with the country’s arts culture. The galleries present exhibits on prehistoric Africa; they display sculptures and paintings from pioneering and contemporary artists; and they provide examples of traditional attire, local musical instruments, and sacred tribal artifacts such as Asante ancestral stools, traditionally believed to be the receptacle of the soul of the chief who sat on them. The Museum also boasts a sculpture garden, displaying, amongst other artworks, life-size statues of historical figures such as Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana. There is the chance to have a guided tour of the museum. The museum’s gift shop offers a variety of traditional Ghanaian handicrafts such as baskets, jewelers, pottery and woodcarvings. Other facilities include a Library, a Conservation Laboratory, the Education Hall, which is used for conferences, seminars and workshops, a “Sculpture Garden”.