Mr. Justice Brobbey, Curator at the Manhyia Palace Museum, has stated that, the Museum is open to the general public everyday including the statutory holidays.
He entreated the public to rid their minds of the perceptions that the Museum is restricted to some selected category of individuals. He says anyone can visit the museum on any day.
Mr. Brobbey was delivering the keynote address at a workshop themed “the museum as a Guardian of Cultural Heritage in Ghana”.
The workshop was organized to complement the visit of some Japanese and Zambians led by Professor Kenji Yoshida, National Museum of Ethnology. The visit was to exchange ideas and explore possible partnership areas on how to manage museums.
He explained that, Manhyia Palace Museum was established and officially opened on August 12,1995 by the late King Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, as part of activities marking the silver jubilee of his ascension to the Golden Stool.
He said the Museum building is of great historical interest and importance. He explains that the museum only houses the Exhibits and is itself an exhibit. He reveals that it was built by the British Colonial Government in 1925 as compensation for Nana Prempeh I after his return from exile in Seychelles.
He explains the Museum’s uniqueness, saying it was created by a single people, the Asante Nation, with no government support. He says the edifice communicates the riches of their history and culture to future generations and to the ever-increasing numbers of tourists/visitors who come to Ghana from all over the world.
He indicated that, the prime objective of Manhyia Palace Museum has been to raise cultural awareness by preserving the best of distinctive Asante heritage.
He disclosed that, the mission of the Museum is to collect, document, protect, preserve and promote the unique artifacts through rich cultural display to educate and engage both the general public and international community in furthering their understanding,appreciation and enjoyment of the history and cultural heritage of Asante people.
He underscored that, the main vision is to serve the Kingdom of Asante, Ghana and the International Community by promoting the Museum as a heritage and cultural Museum dedicated to the preservation of the history and culture of Asante people and to aspire to become a leading private Museum in Africa and the world.
Professor Kenji Yoshida, in his response said they consider the occasion to be very important to foster friendship between the Manhyia Palace Museum, Asante Kingdom and Japan.
