James Fort Prisons to be vacated

Accra, Sept 6, GNA - The James Fort Prison in Accra will soon be closed down to make way for the planned national heritage restoration programme embarked upon by the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB). In this direction, prisoners are to be transferred to other prisons such as the Nsawam prisons.

Mrs Doris Owusu Fianko, Executive Director of the GTB announced this when she outlined the programme for this year's National Tourism Awards programme slated for September 25.

She said the process is part of an overall programme to enhance the nations' tourist sites and attractions to boost tourism revenue and arrivals. She said a number of forts and castles along the nation's coastline have been earmarked for the project, saying this will enable Ghana tell the story of slavery and colonialism better.

The Usher Fort Prison was closed down about two years ago to make way for a similar programme. The Ministry of Tourism has indicated that more of such sites would be restored to help make Ghana the best slave history destination and history.

Mrs Fianko said even though tourism is the third foreign exchange earner after cocoa and gold, expectations are that given the necessary push and support from government and the private sector, it could become the first. Tourism arrivals per year currently st