Our Story
The Dei Centre was born from a singular conviction: that art is the permanent document of a nation’s soul.
Our founder, Seth Dei, did not simply collect paintings; he preserved history. For over three decades, he walked the path of a visionary, recognizing the genius of Ghanaian artists long before the global spotlight found them. From the vibrant strokes of Ablade Glover to the profound installations of Kofi Setordji, the collection was built to ensure that Ghana’s identity would never be lost to time.
The Centre was created to provide a space where people can encounter art in meaningful, human ways. A place where art could inspire, uplift, and connect people.
Our Purpose
The Centre is more than a gallery. It is a place for reflection, learning, and shared experiences. We exist to:
The Million Dollar Philosophy
At the heart of the Centre is a provocative question our founder often asked:
“When will a Ghanaian painting be worth a million dollars?” His answer – “Tomorrow, if we decide it is”
We believe that the value of our heritage is determined by our own level of appreciation and stewardship. The Dei Centre exists to be the place where the value is established, protected, and shared with the world.
The Collection
A Living Archive of Ghanaian and African Contemporary Art
The Dei Collection is one of Ghana’s most respected private art collections, built over several decades through a deep commitment to documenting, supporting, and celebrating African creativity. Established by collector and patron Seth Dei, the collection reflects a lifelong dedication to nurturing Ghana’s art ecosystem and preserving the cultural narratives that shape it.
Spanning paintings, sculpture, photography, textiles, and mixed media, the collection features works by many of Ghana’s leading modern and contemporary artists alongside notable African and diasporan creators. It captures the evolution of artistic expression across generations—from early modernist experimentation to bold contemporary practices that engage identity, history, spirituality, and global dialogue.
A defining feature of the collection is its extensive holdings of Asafo flags, an important cultural and artistic tradition of the Fante people. These appliquéd textiles offer a rare and powerful visual record of symbolism, community identity, storytelling, and historical memory along Ghana’s coast. Their presence within the Dei Collection underscores a commitment not only to contemporary art, but also to the preservation of heritage forms that continue to shape Ghana’s visual culture.
The Dei Collection serves as the foundation of the Dei Centre’s exhibitions, research, and educational programmes. It is both a resource and a catalyst—supporting innovative curatorial work, creating access for new audiences, and fostering meaningful engagement between artists, scholars, and the public.
More than a private collection, it is a living archive: one that honours the past, engages the present, and inspires the future of Ghanaian and African art.
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The Team
Akosua Dei
Founder & Director
Kojo Mensah
Lead Curator
Ama Serwaa
Program Manager