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What if the 19^th century building of the Osu Salem Presbyterian School was brought back to life with a new purpose? The proposal for the regeneration of this heritage building designed in 1843 and completed in 1865 by the Basel Mission in Accra aims at contributing to safeguarding the spirit of the place while positively impacting the Osu community. In line with the thinking of the collaborative research project ‘Valletta Accra: A Dialogue Between Mercantile Cities’, the re-imagination of the school becomes an opportunity for a pilot project influencing how other heritage buildings in Ghana’s bustling capital city could be restored and reused.

For almost 140 years, the Osu Salem School served as a key educational centre, producing notable intellectuals, such as scholars, physicians, attorneys, architects and city mayors. With the passing of time, part of the building fell into neglect, and today it is in a state of serious dilapidation. By closely surveying its architectural and historical features, the proposed material restoration intends to preserve the memory of an important chapter of Ghanaian colonial history while injecting it with new purpose.

Priority is given to the restoration of the original structure, by repairing the roof partially collapsed and generally compromised by the ingress of rainwater, which has weakened the adobe infill walls and damaged the timber framework. The maintenance of the timber structure aims to facilitate a flexible programme of modern functionality through the integration of versatile spaces. These may include a multipurpose hall, a library, an archive documenting the legacy of the Basel mission in Ghana, and a ‘hall of fame’ where success stories of honoured scholars will be showcased.

The project’s success will rest on its ability to authentically reflect the cultural life of Osu, safeguard the treasure of its past, and further define the identity of life in this part of West Africa.