By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu, GNA
Accra, Feb. 12, GNA – Madam Zubaida Ismaila, a journalist and Cultural Heritage Advocate, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to prioritise the documentation and nomination of heritage sites in Northern Ghana for UNESCO recognition, describing the region’s heritage as under-represented on the global stage.
In an open letter addressed to the president, Madam Ismaila called for increased investment in archaeological research, preservation and the preparation of nomination dossiers for potential World Heritage sites in the North.
She noted that Ghana currently has only two UNESCO World Heritage sites — the Coastal Forts and Castles, inscribed in 1979, and the Asante Traditional Buildings, inscribed in 1980, saying no new sites had been added in the last 45 years.
She said while international attention often focuses on the forts and castles along the coast, significant heritage in Northern Ghana remains largely undocumented and underpromoted.
She cited Akamade in the Savannah Region as one of the sites that could attract scholarly and global interest, explaining that the area contains rock inscriptions, including Arabic phrases such as “Allah” and “Allahu Akbar”, which she suggested could be linked to Gonja Ajami literature or Kufic calligraphy.
The advocate said some archaeologists, including Professor Wazi Apoh, had indicated the historical and cultural significance of such inscriptions and urged the State to take steps to support research and preservation.
She also expressed concern about what she described as the neglect of a slave cemetery in East Gonja, which she said remained unprotected and without documentation or recognition.
Madam Ismaila further recalled that in January 2000, Ghana placed six locations on UNESCO’s tentative list, including Mole National Park and the Trade Pilgrimage Routes, adding, however, that the country had made limited progress in advancing nominations since then.
The journalist urged the government to initiate what she described as an “upstream process”, including archaeological studies, heritage assessments, and technical documentation to support the nomination of Northern heritage sites.
She called on the president to include East Gonja and other Northern heritage locations in national tourism development plans, stressing that heritage recognition could support cultural pride, research, tourism and local economic development.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Kenneth Odeng Adade