Demolish Illegal Buildings Around Forts and Castles - Tourism Minister Dzifa Gomashie

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, *Dzifa Gomashie*, is calling for the immediate removal of all unauthorised structures built around Ghana’s forts and castles.

She said the growing encroachment is putting the country’s historic sites at risk and threatening their beauty, structural integrity and preservation for future generations.

Speaking at a symposium on the *Korea-Ghana Heritage Project* in Accra, the Minister noted that one of the biggest challenges is the lack of proper engagement with communities that live close to these heritage sites.

“_Often, we leave out the engagement with the community. And so they don’t see the importance of why our, for example, call for the demolition of illegal structures around the forts and castles,_” she explained.

According to her, the level of encroachment in some areas is so serious that it should alarm every Ghanaian.

“If I show you pictures of the encroachment on the buffer for the forts and castles, you will join me in doing Aluta,” she said.

Ms. Gomashie stressed that protecting Ghana’s cultural heritage cannot be done by government alone. She urged traditional leaders, local communities and other stakeholders to work together on a more coordinated plan to safeguard forts, castles and other historic assets.

She added that better community sensitisation is needed so residents understand why protecting these sites matters and why illegal structures must be cleared from the buffer zones.