Lecturer calls for amendment of Museums decree 1969

Accra, May 20, GNA - Dr Kodzo Gavua a Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon on Friday called for the amendment of the Ghana National Museums Decree of 1969 to make its operations to meet current policies on exports.

He said the decree, which spelt out the country's control of the export of antiquities was compromised by existing policies on the export of non-traditional products without scrutiny and that it was encouraging the expansion of illicit international trade in antiquities and must be amended to protect the museums and national artefacts.

Dr Gavua stated at a public forum organized by the Ghana National Museums and Monuments Board (GNMMB) on the theme, "National Museum - An Asset For Development."

It was aimed at using the museums as a source of national inspiration, rebuilding national confidence, pride and solidarity. Dr Gavua appealed to Government to pass the revised Museums and Monuments Bill to empower archaeologists, anthropologists and other researchers to monitor and protect Ghana's cultural heritage. Speaking on the topic, "Museums in Response to Change," Dr Gavua urged the GNMMB to be more innovative, present exhibitions that explain the process of cultural change, and focus on achievements of Ghanaian heroes and heroines.

He urged the Board to educate prospective art dealers and tourists who acquired artefacts as souvenir about authentic meanings of Ghana material culture.

The education would enable tourists to understand, appreciate and be inspired by what they saw at the museums before entering the art market.

"We have been exporting our culture in a vacuum, this have lead to all kinds of misinterpretation of art." Nana Kobina Nketsia, Chairman of the GNMMB chaired the forum, attended by workers of the museum curators, archaeologists, ethnographers, African-Americans and a cross-section of the public.