Mohammed Saani Ibrahim-The Accra Times
The Sector Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture, hon. Alex Asum-Ahensah has taken his turn to brief the local media of his Ministry’s performance between 2011 to date at the ‘’Meet the Press’’ series.
The Minister’s presentation anchored on the importance of the Ministry through its Departments and Agencies as well as its contribution to the development of Ghana.
The Ghana Museums’ and Monuments Board [GMMB] an Agency of the Ministry which he referred to as the legal custodian of the nation’s cultural heritage has contributed significantly to Ghana’s socio- economic development.
He indicated that the Board which also has the responsibility to acquire, protect, conserve and document the nation’s movable and immovable cultural heritage for prosperity, research purposes and public education, expended a lot of money on personnel training, public awareness and sensitization programs.
The GMMB according hon. Ahensah is not only working on realizing its dream of turning the country into the most preserved tourist site in Africa but to also transformed itself as the sought-after institution in Ghana and to lead the country’s tourism investment drive.
He noted that the presently the Board enjoys continuous increase in revenue generation from increased local and international patronage of the heritage sites.’’ Internally Generated Fund for the year 2011 was GHS 377,258.39 whilst that of 2012 as at October stand at GHC 475,598.43, representing an increase of 26% over and above the 2011 income’’.
He announced that, the Museum of Science and Technology building complex started in 1974 is currently in its final stage of completion with financial support from the Ghana Government. The museum which is to showcase scientific innovations, appropriate technology and supplement science education will cost GHC 1,687,500.00 to be completed.
The Science and Technology Museum Complex, when completed will enable the GMMB to raise its revenue generation capacity to about 20%, hon. Alex Asum-Ahensah observed.
The Board through its affiliations to international bodies enjoys both technical and financial assistance from the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization[UNESCO], West African Museum Program and the West African World Heritage Fund.
The Minister further explained that through its membership to these International Bodies, the GMMB has been able to produce attractive and innovative programs that earned it a high reputation in the West African sub-region.
‘’ It is in recognition of the international quality standards attained by the Board that during the year under review , it had the privilege to organize a capacity building program for staff of its counterpart institution from Liberia’’ he said.
In the wake of Ghana‘s oil find in the Western Region, the Board has successfully continued its sensitization campaign in some selected communities to educate the populace on the need to protect heritage sites in the Area, especially the Buffer Zones of Ghana‘s National and World Heritage sites, to ensure they remain in UNESCO’s world heritage list, Mr. Ahensa stated.
He expressed his Ministry’s gratitude and appreciation to the Ministry of Information for the opportunity granted them to inform Ghanaians through the press of their activities, performances and challenges.
