12 June. It is with great sorrow that ICCROM has learned of the death of a long-time collaborator and friend, Joseph Davidson Kweku Nkrumah of Ghana.  He was 70 years old. 

Mr Nkrumah obtained degrees in cultural anthropology, chemistry, and conservation science, and was one of the first African professional to be involved in ICCROM activities when he undertook an internship from 1963 – 1964.  This internship, one of four made available to ICCROM by the Italian Government, took him to a number of important conservation institutions in Rome such as the Central Institute for Restoration (now ISCR - Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro), the Vatican Museum, the Lateran Museum, Palazzo Venezia, and the National Museum of Oriental Art.  During this period, he studied the conservation of a variety of materials such as bronze, ceramics, wood, ivory, fabrics, books and paper, photographs, and metals.

Following his internship in Rome, the same grant allowed him to further his studies in the National Museum of Switzerland, Zurich.

Over the years, Mr Nkrumah continued to collaborate with ICCROM as a lecturer within the PREMA 1990–2000 programme and on the Italian Architectural Conservation Course (ITARC).  He also participated in a number of steering committee meetings within the AFRICA 2009 programme.  Mr Nkrumah was an ICCROM Council Member from 1992 to 1993 and the representative of Ghana to the ICCROM General Assembly in 1988 and 1992. 
 
Mr Nkrumah worked and lectured in several prestigious heritage institutions in Africa, Europe, and the United States, and was a passionate advocate for heritage conservation in Africa.  He held several positions at the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board where he retired as Senior Conservator.

The Director General and all the staff of ICCROM would like to present their most sincere condolences to the family of Mr Nkrumah and to his colleagues at the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board and those he worked with around the world.

updated on: 13 August, 2009