Japhet Aryiku, Executive Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, has responded to recent allegations that the Ghanaian government has entered into a 50-year lease or sale agreement with the foundation, relinquishing control of the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre.
This comes after Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu, leveled allegations that the government has handed over management of the Centre to a newly formed private foundation lacking relevant expertise, through a long-term arrangement.
“There have been allegations that the government has sold the place to us, the Du-Bois Foundation, but that is not true. There are also allegations that the place has been leased to the Bu-Bois Foundation, but that is also not true.”
“The agreement that we signed with the Ghana government is that the Du Bois Museum Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism will raise the money, develop place, operate, and manage the place for a period of 50 years. That 50 years is broken up into thirty and twenty”.
Japhet Aryiku, Executive Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation
Aryiku further clarified that the agreement has an initial term of 30 years, with an option to extend it for an additional 20 years, potentially spanning a total of 50 years.
He further emphasized that the agreement does not include any clause obligating the government to provide financial compensation to the foundation in the event of termination or dissolution of the partnership.
Aryiku explained that, as per the agreement, the museum management will be intimately involved in the day-to-day operations of the center for the first thirty years, ensuring a hands-on approach.
He stated that at the end of the thirty-year term, the Museum will engage in a review process with the Minister of Tourism in office at that time, to assess the effectiveness of the partnership and determine the future course of the relationship.
Partnership Extension Contingent On Mutual Satisfaction
Japhet Aryiku further clarified that the partnership will only extend for an additional twenty years if both parties are satisfied with each other’s performance.
He noted that this means that the Du Bois Foundation and the government of Ghana must be content with how they have treated the Museum and managed the facility, respectively, during the initial thirty-year period.
“Now to this very important clause in the agreement. If we are not happy and cannot continue with the relationship, the Bu-Bios Foundation will walk away from the $50-80 million that we would have spent at the center”.
“There is no provision that states that the government has to pay back anything, we will walk away and leave the management, and the operation back to the Ghana government”.
Japhet Aryiku, Executive Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation
Aryiku expressed concerns that the Museum doubts the Ghanaian government and its agencies possess the necessary expertise and enthusiasm to properly appreciate and manage the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois.
Accordingly, he indicated that the Museum believes it is best equipped to care for the Centre and preserve Du Bois’ heritage.
As such, Aryiku stated that the Museum leadership’s motivation for seeking a longer tenure is the Centre’s current state of deterioration, which they aim to address through their continued involvement.
Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana has a minority representation on the board, with only three out of nine seats being appointed by the government.
Additionally, the agreement stipulated that the foundation will have a controlling influence on the board, with the power to appoint six directors, compared to the government’s three.
The foundation will also appoint the board chairman, thereby securing absolute control over the board’s decision-making process.
Likewise, the agreement stipulated that only two Government of Ghana nominees would be eligible for top management positions, while the foundation would have unlimited appointments, solidifying its dominance.
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