Willis E. Bell

Willis E. Bell (1924–1999) was an American photographer best known for documenting Ghana's social and political landscape post-independence between 1957 and 1978. His over 40, 000 images covered political leaders, cultural events, industrialization, and everyday life. His work is a visual record of Ghana’s transformation in the mid-20th century and is considered as a resource for historical and cultural research.

Bell settled in Ghana in 1958 and remained there until his death in 1999. An expatriate photographer, he came to Ghana after having worked for Drum magazine in South Africa, specifically to document the nation's nascent democracy. He quickly integrated himself within multiple Ghanaian communities, from renowned artists' circles to high-level government officials, and everyday citizens.