UNESCO World Heritage Site and significant historical landmark in Ghana, James Fort in Accra, has reportedly fallen into disrepair.
According to Bright Simons, a vice president at IMANI Africa, the fort where Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, wrote his autobiography and campaigned during imprisonment, is now in its worst condition since its construction in 1673, over 330 years ago.
Simons noted that UNESCO has urged Ghana to restore James Fort along with other forts in the country. However, the Ghanaian government has cited financial constraints as the reason for being unable to comply with UNESCO’s directives.
“Imagine the sadness of all who care about Ghana’s heritage when they see its current state (check the video and pictures below).
This is the worst state it has ever been in for approximately 330 years. UNESCO has repeatedly told Ghana to fix its forts and castles (it has the most in Africa).
“Ghana says it can’t fix its forts and castles unless UNESCO brings the money. UNESCO says it can chip in, but Ghana must lead. After much hassle, Ghana committed GHS 2M (less than $150k).
Woefully short! Time to outsource heritage sites to commercial operators on a merit basis,” Simons wrote in a series of posts shared on X on Saturday, June 29, 2024.
He added, “Saddest of all: perhaps the biggest attraction of James Fort – Nkrumah’s jail cell where he wrote his autobiography and campaigned to victory in Ghana’s first multiparty democratic elections – has simply rotted to mould! By the end of the rainy season, nothing would be left!
The IMANI vice president presented images of the fort, revealing a severely deteriorated structure. Most of the fort’s roofs were decayed and had collapsed, leaving its internal structures exposed to the elements.