By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, Aug. 28, GNA – The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, says Ghana’s heritage conservation partnership with the Republic of Korea must go beyond financial and technical support to promote people-to-people exchanges and deeper cultural understanding.
She said while financial and technical assistance was important to the success of heritage conservation projects, stronger human connections and cultural exchanges, particularly among the younger generation, were equally critical to sustaining the partnership.
The Minister made the call when she received a delegation from the Korean National Commission for UNESCO in Accra as part of ongoing discussions on a heritage conservation project between Ghana and Korea.
Madam Gomashie recalled the warm reception accorded Ghana’s delegation during its recent visit to Korea, describing the interactions and cultural exchanges between the two countries as particularly meaningful.
She expressed satisfaction with progress made in the collaboration since her visit to Korea, saying the initiative had generated significant interest within the Ghanaian Government.
The Minister disclosed that she had briefed Cabinet on the partnership and that President John Dramani Mahama was pleased with the progress and steps being taken to advance the project.
She said the partnership was particularly important in view of recommendations made by UNESCO in 2022 and 2024 for Ghana to take concrete measures to safeguard its heritage sites.
“We promise and assure you of our support to ensure that this is very successful,” she said.
Madam Gomashie also disclosed that she had engaged the Danish Ambassador to Ghana on possible collaboration to improve the condition of Osu Castle, which was established during the Danish colonial era.
She said Denmark had expressed interest in supporting work at the castle and that she had proposed to the Ambassador that future cooperation could also extend to Fort Prinzenstein in the Volta Region, another heritage site of Danish origin.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the Korean Government for supporting Ghana’s heritage conservation efforts, despite the absence of comparable Ghanaian monuments in Korea.
She described the collaboration as an important example of international cooperation in heritage preservation.
On his part, Kwon Soo Han, a Cultural Anthropologist and member of the Korean heritage project team, expressed appreciation to the Ghanaian Government for its commitment to the collaboration.
He said a major focus of the project would be to build the capacity of Ghanaian heritage professionals and decision-makers to enable them to eventually take full responsibility for protecting and managing the country’s heritage.
Mr Kwon said the Korean team would also engage communities around the heritage sites to understand their expectations and ensure that their views were reflected in the project.
He stressed that the support and participation of Ghanaians would be essential to the success of the initiative.
He disclosed that the Director-General of UNESCO had recently visited the Korean National Commission for UNESCO and commended it as one of the three best examples of national commissions, alongside those of Germany and Britain.
Mr Kwon said the UNESCO Director-General had also expressed interest in the Ghana-Korea project as an example of cooperation between national commissions that could be shared with other countries.
“I am very proud to have the chance to contribute to the promotion and protection of World Heritage in Ghana,” he said.
He commended Madam Gomashie for her leadership and expressed appreciation to the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), the technical partner in the project.
The Ministry later hosted the Korean delegation, UNESCO representatives and other partners to a dinner reception featuring Ghanaian highlife music and local cuisine, providing the guests an opportunity to experience Ghanaian hospitality and culture.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng