We must be deliberate in teaching youth, African descendants our true history - Tourism Minister

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has urged deliberate efforts to educate the youth and people of African descent on Ghana’s history and the shared historical experiences between Africa and Europe.

She said the preservation of Ghana’s forts, castles and other heritage sites must go beyond maintaining physical structures, stressing that the sites should also be used to tell accurate and balanced stories about the country’s history and its connections with the wider world.

Madam Gomashie made the call when she met a Danish delegation in Accra to advance discussions on a proposed pilot project for the preservation and restoration of Osu Castle.

She said Ghana had a responsibility to ensure that young people, including those of mixed Ghanaian and Danish heritage and members of the African diaspora, developed a proper understanding of their roots.

According to her, deliberate efforts were needed to counter one-sided narratives about Africa and enable younger generations to appreciate their heritage and understand the complex history connecting Ghana and other countries.

“We have to be deliberate about educating our young people and people of African descent about our true history,” she said.

The Minister said Ghana and Denmark had an opportunity through the proposed restoration project to confront difficult aspects of their shared past and “build a better story” for future generations.

She expressed appreciation to Denmark for its interest in supporting Ghana’s efforts to preserve Osu Castle and other heritage sites, saying international partnerships were important to safeguarding the country’s historical assets.

The Danish delegation, led by Rikke Olson, said discussions on the proposed Osu Castle project began the previous year with the University of Ghana and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.

She said the proposed project was a pilot initiative involving the University of Ghana, GMMB and the Danish National Museum, with funding of one million Danish kroner.

The Danish representatives said the National Museum was ready to work with Ghanaian institutions and could commence the project once Ghana gave its official commitment.

They said the pilot would serve as an initial step towards broader discussions on additional funding and cooperation in heritage preservation.