The Young Entrepreneurs Federation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfYEF) has announced that the John Dramani Mahama Presidential Library and Legacy Centre (JDM‑PLLC) will open on November 30 at the main campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale.
The centre is positioned as an independent, non‑partisan educational, historical and cultural institution that will document, preserve and protect the leadership legacy of former President John Dramani Mahama, alongside other notable Ghanaian and African leaders.
Chief Hissan Siita Sofo, AfYEF Continental President, said the project aims to create a lasting platform for students, researchers and future generations to study governance, democracy and national development. The centre will operate under core values of integrity, accountability, knowledge, innovation, heritage, service and inclusion, and seeks to bridge historical preservation with youth empowerment.
Key components of the complex include a Presidential Library and Archives, a Historical Research and Knowledge Centre, a Leadership and Civic Education Centre, and Conference and Public Dialogue Facilities. It will also house a Museum and Cultural Heritage Centre that highlights Northern Ghana’s history, a Digital and Virtual Learning Centre for global online access, and a Youth Skills and Enterprise Development Centre offering practical mentorship and entrepreneurship support.
Beyond its educational mission, the JDM‑PLLC will serve as the anchor for an ambitious economic and tourism initiative that positions Northern Ghana as a premier destination for domestic and international travelers, including the global diaspora. With hubs in Tamale and Damongo near Mole National Park, the project is part of a broader strategy to extend visitor stays in the region for up to two weeks.
Central to this vision is the Northern Trade and Tourism Corridor (NTTC), an integrated circuit linking major economic and cultural sites across Ghana’s five northern regions and extending down through Kintampo in the Bono East Region. Initial engagements have already begun with local leaders, including the Member of Parliament and District Chief Executive in Kintampo, to incorporate landmarks such as the Kintampo Waterfalls into the national tourism loop.
AfYEF and its partners also plan to pursue international heritage recognition, including UNESCO World Heritage status, for key natural and cultural sites along the corridor.
AfYEF, a pan‑African, youth‑led organisation created to mobilise and empower young entrepreneurs within the African Continental Free Trade Area, has operations in more than 30 African countries and supports over 15,000 small and medium enterprises through enterprise support, cross‑border trade facilitation and youth economic empowerment.
Watch the launch on November 30 for a glimpse of how history and tourism can converge to drive economic growth in Northern Ghana.
