As part of this year’s International Day of Museums, the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) has granted free admission to all basic and Senior High Schools between May 18 and May 25 at the National Museum.

The gesture is to reiterate the institution’s mandate of providing cultural and historical education to the youth, who are the leaders of the future.

An official statement from GMMB and ICOM Ghana, signed by Mr Kwesi Essel-Blankson, the Acting Executive Director, also urged all Ghanaians to patronise museums for cultural reorientation and resetting.

“We also appeal to the government for more support to give a premium to the role of the National Museum,” it added.

May 18 each year is recognised by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) as International Museums Day (IMD) to draw the attention of the World to the transformative role museums play in society by highlighting specific themes.

This year’s IMD is on the theme “The future of museums in rapidly changing communities”, it focuses on how museums navigate and contribute to a world undergoing profound social transformation due to technological innovations and environmental changes, which threatens fragile cultures.

The statement said the theme aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 8, 9, and 11.

It noted that Museums support local economies by creating employment opportunities and empowering people with knowledge. “It fosters creativity and embraces technological advancement while advancing sustainable urban development by acting as cultural hubs that promote heritage preservation.

“In Ghana, museums are crucial to the country’s historical narrative, serving as repositories of colonial history and Ghanaian cultural heritage. This was central to Osagyefo Dr Kwame
Nkrumah’s dream when he commissioned the National Museum on the eve of Ghana’s independence in 1957 to foster national identity and unity.

The statement, however, expressed disappointment for the fact that GMMB, the institution mandated to manage the National Museum has not been fully empowered to achieve the visions of the founding fathers.

Despite this limitation, the GMMB over the years has played a crucial role in fostering national unity and preserving the cultural identity of the country through public education, community engagements and access for all.

The statement commended all staff for their dedication and selfless service.