By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, Aug. 28, GNA—The government, in partnership with the Republic of Korea, has launched the Ghana-Korea Heritage Project to strengthen the conservation and protection of Ghana’s forts and castles threatened by coastal erosion and climate change.
The five-year project seeks to preserve Ghana’s historic sites, strengthen technical capacity, and promote the sustainable management of Ghana’s cultural heritage.
Mrs Dzifa Abla Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, speaking at the launch, said Ghana’s forts and castles were monuments of immense historical significance and important assets for tourism, education, research, cultural diplomacy, and national development.
The Minister noted that Ghana had already lost a number of historic forts and castles, while others were struggling to survive because of environmental and other pressures.
She said the vulnerability of the coastal heritage sites had become more urgent due to the effects of climate change, including coastal erosion and increased rainfall.
“I live by the sea. I am from a coastal community, so it is my daily reality of what the sea can do to a community,” she said, stressing the need for decisive action to safeguard the monuments.
The Minister said the Ghana-Korea Heritage Project would complement ongoing government efforts to address concerns raised by international heritage bodies, including UNESCO and the
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), regarding the conservation and protection of Ghana’s historic sites.
She said the project would contribute to Ghana’s commitment to ensuring that its forts and castles were protected, conserved, and managed in accordance with international standards.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the government and people of South Korea for the support, describing the initiative as a demonstration of the power of international cooperation and a shared commitment to protecting heritage.
She, however, stressed that international assistance alone could not guarantee the survival of Ghana’s heritage.
“Heritage conservation is not the responsibility of one institution only,” she said, adding that government, traditional authorities, technical experts, local communities, development partners, and the public must work together.
She urged Ghanaians to take greater responsibility for protecting heritage sites, warning against encroachment and activities that could undermine the integrity of forts and castles.
A speech read on behalf of Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education, said the structures were “not simply stone and mortar” but represented important chapters of Ghana’s history and part of the shared heritage of humanity.
“Walls that survived centuries are now crumbling within decades,” he said, stressing that losing the sites would mean losing an important resource for educating future generations about their history and identity.
Mr Kyongsig Park, the Ambassador of Korea to Ghana, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ghana’s efforts to preserve and promote the country’s forts and castles as important symbols of its history and heritage.
“I am quite happy because my government is helping Ghana and Ghanaian people in various fields. We built roads, and we built buildings and architecture here, but it is quite important that we are helping heritage conservation and culture issues,” he said.
Dr Hyunik Hong, Secretary-General, Korean National Commission for UNESCO, said the Commission’s core mission was to build peace in the minds of people through education, science, and culture.
“I firmly believe that this project will serve as a benchmark for cultural cooperation—one that empowers local communities, strengthens institutional capacity, and advances global climate resilience,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Kodjo Adams [email protected]