Accra, June 2, GNA – Dr. Ibrahim Muhammmed Awal, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, has appealed to Volta traditional rulers to help construct the narrative of the region by stocking the regional museum with rich historical artifacts.
He said the facility was an asset of the region and must therefore depict the historical patterns and the cultural significance of the host community.
The Minister was reopening the renovated Volta Regional Museum
which was closed down for renovations due to structural defects and the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic.
It was renovated with the support of the Ghana Gas company Limited, the German Embassy and internally generated Funds from the Ghana Museum and Monuments Board (GMMB).
Dr Awal reiterated the unwavering commitment of the government to stimulate Ghana’s tourism sector which could generate 5 billion dollars by the end of 2021.
He entreated students in the Volta Region to take advantage of the Museum facility and learn more about their history and culture.
He later tasked the management of the GMMB to as a matter of priority sensitize the general public on the relevance of museums in order to whip up public interest in Ghanaian museums.
This, he said, would engender maximum visitation to the forts and castles dotted across the country.
He thanked the German Embassy and the Ghana Gas company for their immense support in the renovation of the Museum.
The German Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Christoph Retzlaff said his country’s support for the renovation of the Museum was a testimony of the shared cultural heritage and values with the people of the Volta Region which dated back to the pre-war era when Germany its colonial master.
He commended the various partners for their support in realizing the completion of the Museum project.
Dr Archibald Letsa, Volta Regional Minister said the museum’s new look had been enhanced by artworks created by Voltarians, paintings of notable persons from the region including the late Former President Jerry John Rawlings, the first Miss Ghana, Monica Amekoafia, Ghana’s first female lawyer, Annie Ruth Baeta and some belongings of the late German Governor of the region in the late 1900s.
Mr. Abdouramane Diallo, Representative of UNESCO in Ghana, appealed to western countries bring back cultural artifacts taken out from Africa illegally to restore the dwindling African heritage.
He said that UNESCO was providing a platform that would facilitate an engagement to ensure that African artifacts illegally in possession of the western countries were brought back to Africa.
Acting Executive Director of GMMB, Mr. Ivor Agyeman Duah also lauded the quest of German Government for providing 250,000 Euros for the roofing and other auxiliary works of the Museum.
He said GMMB would continue to partner the German Government to undertake other viable projects that would help in the preservation of the Ghanaian culture, given that Ghana and Germany had a rich history during the colonial era.
GNA