JOYCE QUARSHIE FOUNDATION

For 25 years, Berj Art Gallery has been a dedicated cultural facilitator of West African and Ghanaian art, exhibiting, promoting, and nurturing creative talent in Accra. Now, we embark on a new chapter - the Berj Busua Artist Residency, a transformative creative hub situated in Busua.

Busua is a beach resort and fishing village in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region in Ghana, about 30 kilometers west of the regional capital, Sekondi-Takoradi in the Gulf of Guinea. Busua is classified in the category of towns with more than 5,000 inhabitants, with a paved road from Sekondi to reach the town. The inhabitants speak the Akan language dialect Ahanta.^[1] Busua fishing village is known for blue marlin and tuna fishery.  

Hannah Badu Kudjoe, affectionately known as "Convention Hannah," stands as a pivotal figure in Ghana's quest for independence from British colonial rule in the 1940s and 1950s. Despite her significant contributions, her name has been overshadowed by male-dominated narratives in post-independence Ghana. Born in December 1918 during the era of British colonial dominance, Kudjoe grew up witnessing the injustices of colonial rule, fostering a deep sense of patriotism and a fervent commitment to the cause of liberation.

As one of the first high-profile female nationalists in the movement, Hannah Kudjoe played an integral role in Ghana's struggle for independence. Her historic participation as the only woman at the founding meeting of Ghana's first mass nationalist party, the Convention People's Party (CPP), marked the beginning of her journey as a central figure in mobilizing the masses and advocating for Ghana's freedom. Despite facing challenges and often defying colonial authorities, she became widely known for orchestrating rallies and leading a massive petition drive for the release of celebrated nationalist leaders, including Kwame Nkrumah.

Elisha Arthur, born on March 27th, 2000, hails from the coastal town of Busua in the Western Region of Ghana. His artistic journey began amidst the terrain of his homeland, which would ultimately become a profound source of inspiration for his work. Elisha's formative years were marked by his education at Baidoo Bonsoe Senior High Technical School, where his talent for artistic expression first emerged.