DIKAN

Dikan — meaning “to lead” in the language of Ghana’s Akan people — is a groundbreaking architectural project rooted in the vision of photographer and storyteller Paul Ninson. Conceived as West Africa’s first and premier learning center dedicated to photography and visual education, Dikan is both a cultural landmark and a catalyst for creative exchange.

Architecturally, the project weaves together a series of interconnected spaces designed to foster learning, collaboration, and inspiration. A modern library forms the intellectual heart of the center, surrounded by a network of dynamic program spaces including photo and film studios, a theatre, gallery, archival rooms, and classrooms. A central courtyard anchors the design, serving as a communal gathering space that reflects the spatial traditions of Ghanaian architecture — open, inviting, and responsive to climate.

With dedicated areas for children and teens, a media center, events venue, outdoor exhibition yard, and administrative offices, Dikan is envisioned as more than a building — it is an ecosystem for visual culture. Thoughtfully designed with Ghana’s climate, culture, and materiality in mind, Dikan will stand as a contemporary architectural expression of leadership, creativity, and community in the heart of Accra.

On the boards, Fall 2021.