Museums and Monuments Board calls for resources

Kumasi, July 13, GNA - Mr Paul A B Duon-Naa, Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, has demanded adequate resources for the Board to enable it to play its role effectively in tourism promotion. He said the Board had been neglected for too long and that it was time the needed logistics and financial support were provided to enhance its operation.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Wednesday, Mr Duon-Naa mentioned the lack of vehicles, office accommodation and equipment as some of the problems facing the Board in the Region. He said the Ashanti Traditional Buildings, which had been listed by UNESCO as World Heritage sites were in bad state and their existence was being threatened by the lack of funds to restore and conserve them. Mr Duon-Naa noted that Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions abounded with rich material culture and heritage, which were not being exploited, adding that, the two were the only regions which had no museums to exhibit the culture and artefacts of the people to the public and tourists. He appealed to chiefs, individuals and organisations, which had any cultural materials and artefacts to donate them to the Board for display in the museums to promote the culture of the people.

Mr Duon-Naa said the Board organised a quiz competition recently for some selected junior secondary schools in the Region to mark the International Museum Day, which fell on June 30 this year. He said the Army Basic JSS, which emerged the winners received a cash prize of 200,000 cedis and a certificate, while the Holy Spirit JSS and Aboabo placed second and received 150,000 cedis and a certificate each. The third place was won by the Mmofratro JSS, which received 100,000 cedis and a certificate, while the State Boys JSS placed 4th and received 60,000 cedis and a certificate.