On 25th July 2024, Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture took the floor at the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee to address conservation issues at the Forts and Castles World Heritage Properties.
In his intervention, the Deputy Minister praised UNESCO and its advisory bodies for supporting Ghana in managing the Forts and Castles effectively.
The Minister mentioned that the conservation issue at the Forts and Castles has become a national concern. He further noted that for this reason, the Government of Ghana has resourced the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board to address the management and conservation issues at the properties.
Recalling an earlier request by the World Heritage Committee for Ghana to mobilize the international community to support the conservation of the properties, the Minister pointed out that Ghana will work with the World Heritage Centre and its Advisory Bodies to mobilize the international community to support the conservation of the Forts and Castles.
The Minister concluded his intervention by assuring UNESCO that Ghana is committed to implementing the World Heritage Convention and its Operational Guidelines.
The World Heritage Committee meets once a year and consists of representatives from the twenty-one (21) States Parties to the Convention elected by their
General Assembly.
The Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund, and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties. It has the final say before a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List. It examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to take action when properties are not being professionally managed. It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Ghana’s delegation to the 46th Session of the World Heritage is composed of Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Kingsley Ofosu Ntiamoah, Executive Director for Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, Miss Natalyn Oye Addo, Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, and Mr Christopher Wetcher, Ghana Commission for UNESCO.
The session is taking place in New Delhi, India and it is scheduled for 21st to 31st July.
