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Afram Publications (Ghana) Ltd was incorporated in February 1973 and began its operations in March 1974 at the private studio of Efua Sutherland, located on "Araba Mansa," her compound in Dzorwulu, Accra. Mr. Kwesi Sam-Woode served as our first Managing Director, and Mr. Kofi Amos Duker was our first employee.
Dzorwulu, Accra
The concept of creating an indigenous publishing house in Ghana was first envisioned in the 1950s by the eminent writer and cultural activist, Mrs. Efua T. Sutherland. Professor J. H. Kwabena Nketia recalls that Mrs. Sutherland discussed the idea with Professor K. A. Busia, Dr. J. B. Danquah, and several other prominent writers and scholars of the time. This vision gained further momentum nearly two decades later through the collaboration between Mrs. Sutherland, Mr. Willis E. Bell, an exceptionally talented photographer, and Professor J. H. Kwabena Nketia, a renowned musicologist and writer. Their collective focus was on publishing their creative works and other African and local materials for Ghanaian readers.
First In Ghana
Mr. Bell's artistic skills were complemented by his sharp business acumen, while Mrs. Sutherland and Professor Nketia were internationally acclaimed educationists, writers, and Africanists, known for their innovative ideas. The company's name has an interesting origin. Before the construction of the Akosombo Dam in 1964 and 1965, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah assembled a research team that included the founders of Afram Publications and several young graduates from the University of Ghana.
This team went to the Afram Plains to collect data on the people, places, and cultural practices of the area. The goal was to ensure that the history and cultural heritage of the region, which would be affected by the flooding, would not be lost to society.
International Educationists
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