Ghana, Korea and Denmark explore support for UNESCO heritage sites

Ghana is exploring broader international cooperation to preserve and restore its forts, castles and other heritage sites, with the Republic of Korea and Denmark expressing interest in supporting the country’s heritage conservation efforts.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, said South Korea had committed approximately $4 million towards the restoration of six UNESCO heritage sites affected by climate change.

She disclosed this when she met a Danish delegation in Accra to advance discussions on a proposed pilot project for the preservation and restoration of Osu Castle.

Madam Gomashie said officials of the Korea National Commission for UNESCO were currently in Ghana as part of the collaboration, adding that a committee for the Korean-supported restoration programme would also be inaugurated.

She explained that informing the Danish delegation about the Korean initiative was important because Ghana welcomed support from different international partners to preserve its heritage.

Among the sites expected to benefit from the Ghana-Korea partnership are Ussher Fort, James Fort, Christiansburg Castle, Fort Vernon and Fort Augustaburg.

The Minister said sharing information on the sites being supported by Korea would enable other international partners, including Denmark, to identify additional heritage sites that required attention.

She said the partnerships with Korea and Denmark demonstrated the opportunities available for Ghana to mobilise international support for the preservation of its historical assets.

The Minister also expressed appreciation to Denmark for its interest in supporting the restoration of Osu Castle and said the proposed cooperation could extend to other heritage sites linked to the shared history of the two countries.

Madam Gomashie said Ghana would continue to welcome partnerships that supported the preservation, interpretation and presentation of its heritage for present and future generations.

She said the restoration of heritage sites should also provide an opportunity to tell accurate and balanced stories about Ghana’s history and its connections with the wider world.

The Danish delegation, led by Rikke Olson, said Denmark was prepared to support the preservation of sites in Ghana associated with the countries’ shared history.

The delegation said the proposed Osu Castle initiative was a pilot project involving the University of Ghana, the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board and the Danish National Museum.

It said the project had funding of one million Danish kroner and could commence once Ghana gave its official commitment.

The Danish representatives said the pilot project would provide a foundation for further discussions on additional funding and broader cooperation in heritage preservation.

They said the Danish National Museum was ready and enthusiastic to work with Ghanaian institutions on the project.

The delegation also recalled Denmark’s willingness to work with Ghana to preserve their shared history, including heritage sites in Denmark that were built or managed by Denmark during relevant historical periods.

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