Tourism can be used to improve nation's economy – Baffoe
Anomabo (Central Region) 26 May 2000
Mr Fritz Baffoe, Chairman of the Ghana Museums and Monument Board (GMMB) on Tuesday emphasised the need for all Ghanaians to contribute towards the preservation of the nation's historical monuments to boost the tourism industry.
Speaking at the formal handing over Fort Williams by the Ghana Prison Service, at Anomabo in the Central Region, Mr Baffoe said it is imperative to ensure that the industry is given the necessary push by adding value to tourist attractions to enable it earn more foreign exchange for the country in face of falling prices of traditional exports.
The English built Fort Williams in 1770 as a slave post and named it after King William IV under whose reign it was renovated and enlarged. In the post -colonial era, it has been used variously as offices and prison but will now serve as a historical monument. The Prison Service, it last occupants, has now been relocated at the Ankaful Prisons, near Cape Coast.
Mr Baffoe said to help ensure GMMB's objectives, it is now ensuring the active participation of the local people in the preservation of such monuments to complement the government's efforts at developing the tourism industry.
He acknowledged sentiments being expressed both within the country and the Diaspora that the use of forts and castles as prisons was inappropriate regarding the role such monuments played in relation to the slave trade and said as much as the government is sensitive to these sentiments, it could only put up new prisons in a gradual process in view of the financial constraints.
Mr Baffoe announced that the Dutch government has expressed the desire to assist in a research to be conducted on the fort to find out how it could be appropriately preserved to enhance its potential for tourists.
GRi../