The motivation to create the Pan African Heritage World Museum gets intensified everyday. I have been asking myself serious questions about the “History Prizes” l won during my days as a student in High School in Ghana in the mid 60s. The subject was History, but the topics were British History and European History. No African History.

So l entered the university knowing more about Britain and Europe than about my own continent Africa. Yes, the Slave Dungeons (named Castles) in the city where my school was located, Cape Coast, were there when l was in school for seven years; but not once were we directed by our teachers to visit them. Africans in the Diaspora? In extra curricular sessions l attended as a member of the Young Pioneer Movement l had learnt about WEB Du Bois, George Padmore, Martin Luther King, and most of the Leaders of the Liberation Movements.

But the blacks we saw in films were acting menial roles and didn’t inspire much confidence.
Fast forward to early 70s. I enter the University of Ghana and meet African Americans admitted to the University of Ghana to pursue courses in African Studies. Natural instincts were at play for me and other Ghanaian students to want to know more about these Diasporans.

They were equally eager to know more about Africa. I led the formation of the International Black Alliance which included students from both sides of the Atlantic. We met once a month, and two persons, one African, one Diasporan, shared their knowledge and experience of each other’s relationship with the other. Curiosity to know more about each other continued post University and helped me in various positions l took in public lectures, in my travels round the five continents till l was elected chairman of the International Board of the Pan African Historical Theatre Festival in Ghana in 1997 after being on the Committee since 1994.

Today, knowing more and telling more about the History of Africa, the Heritage of Africa, the Lost and Stolen Legacy of Africa, and the Future of Africa and Humanity is a missionary call whose time has come.