The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has threatened to de-list Ghana of from its historical heritage list if government fails to secure the buffers around the forts and castles and make them safe for tourism purposes.
Toursim, Creative Arts and Culture Minister, Abla Dzifa Gomashie says the situation remains dire as it has the potential to affect donor funding of tourism activities in the country.
“UNESCO has indicated that the buffer around the facility, around this castle, be cleared. We stand the risk of being delisted if we do not obey them,” she said during a visit to Cape Coast on June 26.
A look around the castle shows that fishermen operate on the buffer.
She therefore urged the Paramount Chief (Omanhene) of the Oguaa Traditional Area in Cape Coast, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, to assist her in decongesting the buffer to the Cape Coast Castle.
Speaking at the same ceremony, President John Mahama assured of adequate funding for renovation of the forts and castles to avert the delisting by UNESCO.
“As she said, it has been listed as historical heritage site by UNESCO. And so, as the Minister said, we have to keep it in a certain standard so that it qualifies to be listed,” the President said.
According to him, “…this week, on Wednesday, we held a cabinet meeting and the Minister for Tourism and Creative Arts brought a report about the state of the forts and castles and the threats by UNESCO to delist our forts and castles from the historical heritage list. And so, since we’re coming to Cape Coast, we put it as part of the program to come and look at the state of the castle.”
President Mahama assured that, “in next year’s budget, we’re going to make adequate provision to restore this place so that we keep it listed as a historical site.”
