culture & events

BRAZIL HOUSE

The building today called by everyone in Accra the Brazil House is perhaps the most expressive material symbol of the importance of the Tabon for Ghana and of their own history of the return from Brazil. This becomes very clear through its location and the history of its construction. The Brazil House is situated in a street called Brazil lane, in the centre of the capital in old Accra, also known as the Ga Mashie, made up by the estates of Ussher Town and James Town. Its location is privileged, by the sea, facing the old port of Ghana, which means that during a long time that was the place of entry and departure to the rest of the world, not only of people but also of imports and exports, one of the busiest economic sites of the country. Great international companies and the custom control services were installed in the area. In 1962, amidst the wave of modernization started by President Nkrumah, owing to the infra structure and space problems, the port was transferred to Tema, located 25kms east of Accra. Consequently, old Accra started to decline, losing its economic base. Before that, in 1939, the area suffered a terrible earthquake, which, according to an elder, resident of Brazil House, destroyed most of the houses in the area but not Brazil House, due to its strong structure. Brazil House is built over a rocky area, a few meters above sea level, at the edge of a slope, situated between James and Ussher Forts.

Realizing the historical significance of the building, in 2001 UNESCO, through its Director in Ghana, Bruno Lefevre, suggested to the Brazilian Embassy a rehabilitation project for Brazil House, within the ‘Old Accra Integrated Urban Development and Conservation Framework’, project which was approved in 2000 by the Government of Ghana. Convinced of the importance of the project the then Brazilian Ambassador Paulo Americo V. Wolowski approached the matter by discussing it with Nii Azumah V and the Tabon community, who immediately and enthusiastically welcomed the idea. Soon after this, the Tabon community led by Nii Azumah V, UNESCO and the Brazilian Embassy elaborated an architectural project and an estimate of costs for the rehabilitation of the site.

The project initiated in 2001 became a reality for the Tabon in 2005, on the occasion of the first visit of a Brazilian President in Ghana. During the visit the Government of Brazil announced its support for the rehabilitation project of the Brazil House. A few days later Coral Paints (M&K Ghana) also announced that it would contribute with a significant amount to assist in the project. According to the Tabon Chief and the description of the project, Brazil House will serve as a cultural nucleus where Brazil and the Brazilian community can interact with the Tabon people and Ghanaians in general. One of the main goals of the Brazil House is to emphasize the Brazilian roots of the Tabon, through the establishment of a documentation centre and a space for exhibitions. Therefore the Tabon and the Ghanaian community would have the possibility of learning more about their own history and the bridges built through them, between Africa and Brazil, in a true movement of flux and reflux Africa-Brazil-Africa. The brochure ‘Brazil House rehabilitation’ also underlines another aspect of the project: ‘‘it is interesting to note that while the Slave Route Project has dealt so far with the history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and with slavery within Ghana (…) the rehabilitation of Brazil House deals with another aspect of the Slave Route Project. The return of descendants of former slaves from Brazil to the country of their ancestors, Ghana’’

On 15th November 2007, the Brazil House was finally commissioned with the presence of Her Ladyship Chief Justice Georgina Wood, who was born at the House, the Minister of Culture and Chieftaincy, Honourable S.K. Boafo, Honourable J.S.Addo, Member of the Council of State, and the Brazilian Ambassador, Luis Fernando Serra, among other dignitaries. On that occasion, the Ambassador of Brazil stressed that the Government of President Lula couldn’t be indifferent to this saga of pride, courage and love, which is the Tabon story, and the outcome of this commitment was the rehabilitation of the Brazil House.

RE-INTRODUCTION OF LECTURERSHIP

An understanding has been reached between the Ghana Institute of Languages [GIL] and the Embassy of Brazil, with a view to re-introduce a Portuguese teaching in the University of Ghana. According to a draft Memorandum of Understanding, the GIL has stipulated the conditions for the acceptance, a two-year academic teaching, offered the Brazilian lecturer accommodation and transport subsidy of GH¢ 50.00 [equivalent of about US$45.00].

The lecturer must possess a post-graduate qualification and have graduated in the Portuguese language, with minimum of three years experience.