ST. JOHN, U.S. Virgin Islands – Virgin Islands National Park is pleased to welcome Mr. Samuel Acquaah.
He is an esteemed international volunteer from the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, who is joining the park’s newly reorganized Volunteer-In-Parks (VIP) program.
Mr. Acquaah, who currently serves as the Head of the Education Department at the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board and as the Officer-in-Charge of the historic Christianborg Castle (Osu Castle), brings 13 years of experience in cultural heritage and education to the park.
Mr. Acquaah’s professional journey includes managing Osu Castle for eight years, a site deeply intertwined with Ghana’s history.
However, as an International Volunteer-In-Parks (IVIP), his position at Virgin Islands National Park is a result of a collaborative effort between the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, the U.S. State Department, the National Park Service’s Office of International Affairs, Virgin Islands National Park, and Christiansted National Historic Site.
Moreover, with academic credentials that include a Bachelor of Arts in History, Culture, and Tourism from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. He also has a Master of Philosophy in Art and Culture from the University of Education in Winneba. Master of Arts in Tourism and Hospitality Management from HUC in China is also in the list of Volunteer Samuel Acquaah. Mr. Acquaah is well-equipped to contribute to the park’s mission.
Moreover, his extensive knowledge of cultural dynamics, history, and educational strategies will help bridge understanding between the U.S. Virgin Islands and West Africa.
As part of his volunteer role, Mr. Acquaah aims to connect with local communities to foster a deeper appreciation of West Africa’s rich cultural heritage, particularly the shared history between the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Gold Coast of modern-day Ghana.
His expertise will also shed light on the tribal communities that were forcibly transported through the transatlantic slave trade. Many of these came directly from the Danish slave castles now managed by the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.
Mr. Acquaah arrived in St. John on October 20, 2024, and will work with the park’s visitor services division on a variety of programs and public outreach events until his return to Ghana in mid-December.
He will also be available to accompany park rangers on school field trips and to visit local schools. Interested educators can request a visit by reaching out to Virgin Islands National Park using the contact information provided at the end of this press release.
Additionally, Mr. Acquaah will host two public programs at the park’s Resource Management and Science (RMS) Building at Lind Point on St. John:
Akan Adinkra Symbols of Ghana: Form, Function, and Context
Saturday, November 16, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM
(Shuttle service from Cruz Bay Visitor Center departs at 5:30 PM)
Cultural Similarities of West Africa and the Caribbean
Saturday, December 14, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
(Shuttle service from Cruz Bay Visitor Center departs at 9:30 AM)
These events will offer visitors a unique opportunity to learn more about the cultural and historical connections between West Africa and the Caribbean, providing insight into the shared heritage that continues to shape the Virgin Islands.
Virgin Islands National Park would like to thank the U.S. State Department and the National Park Foundation for providing funding to support this project.
The park would also like to express thanks to our partner, Friends of Virgin Islands National Park for facilitating the distribution of the National Park Foundation grant in support of this project.
VIIS Interpretation Staff
Virgin Islands National Park
Coral Reef National Monument
1300 Cruz Bay Creek
St. John, VI 00830
(340)776-6201
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