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Volta Regional Museum: Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Ghana’s Volta Region

Located in the city of Ho, the capital of Ghana’s Volta Region, the Volta Regional Museum serves as a vital cultural institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and showcasing the unique traditions and history of the people of the Volta area. This ethnographic museum offers a deep and personal view into the lives, beliefs, and artistic expressions of the region’s diverse ethnic communities, including the Ewe, Guan, and Likpe peoples, among others.


Established in the 1970s, the museum has grown into a respected center for cultural education and heritage preservation. It stands as a proud reflection of the region’s past and a bridge connecting younger generations to the rich traditions of their ancestors.


Volta regional museum (c) Remo Kurka

A Window into Volta’s Cultural Diversity

The Volta Region is one of the most culturally diverse areas in Ghana, and the museum reflects this richness through its carefully curated collection of artifacts, photographs, and craftwork. The exhibits focus on the everyday life and ceremonial traditions of the region's inhabitants, highlighting their customs, beliefs, and creativity.

Some of the museum’s key displays include:

  • Traditional crafts, such as wood carvings, pottery, and weaving, including examples of Kente and other local textiles.

  • Musical instruments like drums, gongs, and flutes, which play central roles in storytelling, dance, and ritual practices.

  • Historical photographs that document key moments in the region’s social and political history, including colonial encounters and the role of local leaders.

  • Ritual objects and regalia used in chieftaincy, initiation rites, and religious ceremonies, reflecting the spiritual life of Volta’s communities.

These items not only illustrate the aesthetics of Volta's material culture but also serve as symbols of identity and continuity within the various ethnic groups.

Education and Community Engagement

Beyond its function as a repository of artifacts, the Volta Regional Museum plays a crucial educational role. It regularly hosts school groups, researchers, and tourists, offering guided tours and cultural events that promote deeper understanding of the region’s heritage.

The museum also supports local artisans and tradition bearers by providing a platform for exhibitions and collaborations, thereby contributing to the preservation and promotion of indigenous knowledge systems. Through its outreach programs, it encourages the transmission of cultural values and practices to younger generations.


A Site of Memory and Pride

The museum is housed in a modest colonial-era building, but its cultural significance is profound. It stands as a site of memory, pride, and learning for the people of the Volta Region and beyond. It also complements Ghana’s broader efforts to preserve and celebrate its diverse national identity through regional museums and cultural institutions.

As visitors explore the displays, they are not only learning about artifacts—they are engaging with the living legacy of a people whose traditions continue to shape their modern lives.


The Volta Regional Museum in Ho is a hidden gem among Ghana’s cultural institutions. It serves as both a guardian of tradition and a dynamic educational space, ensuring that the stories, skills, and spiritual heritage of the Volta Region are not lost but celebrated and shared. For anyone seeking to understand the cultural heartbeat of eastern Ghana, the museum offers a meaningful and memorable experience.

Founded by acclaimed filmmaker Kwaw Paintsil Ansah, the museum was officially inaugurated on July 28, 2019, by Ghana’s First Lady, H.E. Rebecca Akufo-Addo. Bisa Aberwa was created to celebrate the achievements, struggles, and sacrifices of African and Black icons from across the globe — from liberation fighters and civil rights leaders to cultural pioneers and spiritual figures.


A Treasure House of African Heritage

With over 2,200 artefacts, including sculptures in clay, wood, and cement, as well as paintings, photographs, and audio-visual displays, the museum brings to life the collective memory of Black resilience and excellence. It features figures from across Africa and the African diaspora — including personalities from the French, Portuguese, and Spanish Caribbean, as well as African American civil rights icons.


Visitors will encounter evocative depictions of slave dungeons, plantation life, and the trans-Atlantic slave trade, alongside moments of triumph such as the Civil Rights Movement and the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American President of the United States.

Notable Ghanaian personalities featured include Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Paa Grant, Dr. Esther Ocloo, A.S. Blay, and Nana Kobina Nketsia IV, among many others. Every exhibit is a step through time, designed to educate, inspire, and provoke critical reflection on Black history and its ongoing relevance.


Trans Atlantic Slave Trade (c)  Remo Kurka

How to Get There

The Bisa Aberwa Museum is located in Nkontompo, a suburb of Sekondi-Takoradi, near Effia-Nkwanta Hospital. The museum is easily accessible by taxi or ride-hailing services from the Takoradi city center or the Takoradi airport, which is just a 10 to 15-minute drive away.

If you're arriving from Accra or other regions, STC buses and domestic flights to Takoradi make it a convenient journey. Road conditions from Takoradi to the museum are generally good and well-marked.


Nearby Attractions

Visitors to the Bisa Aberwa Museum can also explore several cultural and coastal landmarks nearby, including:

  • Fort Orange – A 17th-century Dutch trading post overlooking the Gulf of Guinea

  • Sekondi European Town – A charming colonial-era district with historic architecture

  • Takoradi Market Circle – A vibrant open-air market full of Ghanaian textiles, crafts, and spices

  • Beaches along the Atlantic coast – Including the quiet Adjoa Beach and the popular Busua Beach (a bit further west)


Leadership & Legacy

The museum is governed by a Board of Trustees led by Mr. Kwaw Ansah himself, along with respected figures such as Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Prof. Kofi Asare Opoku, and Mr. Akwasi Agyeman of the Ghana Tourism Authority. Their collective vision is to position the museum as a hub of Pan-African thought, education, and cultural preservation.


Whether you're a researcher, student, history enthusiast, or tourist looking to reconnect with Africa's rich past, the Bisa Aberwa Museum offers a powerful and unforgettable experience — one that connects continents, generations, and shared heritage through art and memory.