The Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies (DAHS) and the Office of the Dean, School of Arts, held a commissioning event for its newly expanded Museum of Archaeology and modernized Seminar Room, which was generously supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ghana (German Embassy).
The museum was expanded to include a new Exhibition gallery, a Curator’s office and a washoroom. The Department’s Seminar Room was also expanded and modernized with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment.
The commissioning ceremony was graced by the presence of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, who joined the event alongside other University of Ghana Officials and guests.
In his welcome remarks to open the event, Dr. Samuel Nkumbaan, Head of DAHS, highlighted the department's pressing needs, including staffing challenges and insufficient funding for student activities.
Dr. Samuel Nkumbaan, Head of DAHS
Dr. Nkumbaan specifically requested support from the University for various initiatives, including providing transportation for field studies, funding to safely transfer donated books and expanding the library facilities at the Department. He stressed the importance of addressing these challenges to ensure the department's continued success.
In her comments, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo celebrated the addition of the modernised seminar room and expanded museum at the Department. She acknowledged the importance of the facilities in providing a conducive environment for academic training and underscored the profound significance of archaeology and museums in understanding human civilisation and cultural heritage.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo
Prof. Appiah Amfo praised Prof. Wazi Apoh and the members of the Department for their dedication. She also acknowledged the German Embassy's ongoing support. Expressing optimism about the future exploits of the department, the Vice-Chancellor affirmed the commitment of management to addressing the needs of the department.
As part of the event, Prof. Wazi Apoh, Dean of the School of Arts, provided a background to the museum expansion project and how he and the former head of DAHS, Prof Fritz Biveridge, lobbied the German Embassy for the funding. He acknowledged the significant progress made over the years and called on the Vice-Chancellor's support in realising their plans for further expansion, which includes the construction of a library and additional museum space. He also called on the Vice Chancellor to revisit the University of Ghana Museum Project so as to realize its laubdable and immense benefit to the university community and stakeholders.
Prof. Wazi Apoh, Dean of the School of Arts
"Today, I can report that we have made progress in our efforts to give the facilities a facelift, but our vision extends further. With the support of the Vice-Chancellor, we aim to expand beyond our physical space, train more Archeologists and also conduct more research” Prof. Apoh stated.
Delivering brief remarks on behalf of the German Ambassador H.E. Daniel Krull, the Officer for Press, Culture and Economic Affairs, Ms. Ilsa Aliena Schmidt, expressed satisfaction with the project's completion and emphasised its significance in preserving cultural heritage. She commended the collaboration between the University of Ghana and the Embassy and looked forward to future partnerships.
Officer for Press, Culture and Economic Affairs at the German Embassy, Ms. Ilsa Aliena Schmidt,
Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, Provost of the College of Humanities, commended the department for its accomplishments and encouraged students to maximise the benefits of the new facilities.
Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, Provost of the College of Humanities
Following the commissioning, Dr. Gertrude Eyifa-Dzidzienyo, Chairperson of the Museum Committee of the Department, led a tour of the museum. The museum hosts returned artworks and visual representations of Africa, maps and carvings, as well as profile portraits of several individuals who contributed to the return of the items to Africa.
The commissioning of the expanded Museum of Archaeology and modernized Seminar Room marks a significant step forward for the University of Ghana's Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies promising enhanced academic experiences in the School of Arts and a more excellent preservation of cultural heritage.
Present at the event moderated by Mr. Ransford Yeboah-Badu, Administrator at the School of Arts, were faculty, staff and students of various departments in the School of Arts.
