The German Embassy, in its quest to support the extension of the Archaeology Museum at the University of Ghana’s Department of Archaeology & Heritage Studies, has donated an amount of thirty-five thousand, six hundred Euros, (€35,600) in support of the project.
At a brief ceremony on 17th May, 2023, an agreement to cement this partnership between the Department of Archaeology & Heritage Studies and the German Embassy was signed, and was followed by a sod-cutting ceremony.
Dr. Samuel Nilirmi Nkumbaan, Head of the Department of Archaeology & Heritage Studies, noted in an interview with the UG Public Affairs Media Team that the expansion of the Archaeology Museum comes at a time when the Department's student body is growing, necessitating an expansion.
He stated that the expansion of the museum is necessary, given the amount of interest generated by visits from various elementary and High Schools. He added that some university guests are brought to the museum for sight-seeing and to learn about Ghana's history.
Dr. Nkumbaan provided a brief history of the museum, revealing that it was founded in the 1940s at Achimota College and was relocated to the Department’s current location in the 1950s.
According to Dr. Nkumbaan, representatives from the German Embassy visited the museum and expressed worry over the inspiring exhibition pieces that were on display in the limited space at the museum.
The German delegation was then given a tour of the facility, which led to both sides agreeing that the museum would benefit from the construction of a second exhibition gallery roughly the size of what the Department currently has. This was the inspiration for the project.
He added that construction had already begun in earnest, and that the Department hopes to have the building operational by December 2023.
“Once this happens, we will have enough space not only to house the exhibitions but also to do some type of moving exhibition about what is going on around us’, he highlighted.
He further expressed appreciation to the German Embassy, former Head of Department, Dean of Student Affairs and Dean of the School of Arts for initiating the process in 20220.
Highlighting the posture of the Department on retrieving Ghanaian relics that have gone to European countries, Dr. Nkumbaan noted that, “a lot of effort is happening in respect of restitution of our cultural property that is taken abroad”.
He added that there is already contact with some of the German institutions that are holding some objects and artefacts that belong to Ghana.
Dr. Nkumbaan revealed that the Vice-Chancellor had given approval to the Department to pursue the return of some of the objects to the museum for exhibition and education of Ghanaians, and the Department hoped that some German institutions that have some of the materials will return them in the coming year.
