National Museum of Ghana

The National Museum of Ghana is the largest and oldest of the six museums administered by the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB).  It was founded by the British author, A.W. Lawrence (1900-91), an authority on classical sculpture and architecture, and the youngest brother of the famous T.E. Lawrence (1888-1935) – Lawrence of Arabia. A.W. Lawrence had been a Professor of Archeology at the University of the Gold Coast.  The museum building was opened on 5 March 1957 by Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (1906-1968) during  Ghana’s independence celebrations.  Lawrence retired soon afterwards.

Objects of archaeology, ethnography as well as fine art are displayed here.  These range from the Stone Age to the recent past.  Those on permanent exhibition at the ethnography gallery include the chief’s regalia, indigenous Ghanaian musical instruments, gold weights, beads, traditional textiles, stools, and pottery. There are objects from other African countries acquired through exchange.  Examples are Senfu masks from Ivory Coast, Zulu wooden figures, and bead-ware from Southern Africa.  There are also ancient Ife bronze heads from Nigeria and Bushongo carvings from the Congo.