Ghana Museums and Monuments Board Resists Demolition Attempt

Accra, Ghana - 04 Jan, 2025 - A contentious standoff has emerged in Ghana's capital, Accra, as employees of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) successfully thwarted a private developer's attempt to raze staff residences at Osu Kuku Hill.

The buildings, steeped in history, are not only staff accommodations but also integral to Ghana's cultural legacy.

At the heart of the dispute lies a claim by the private developer to ownership of the property, despite the GMMB's assertion that the state has financed the property entirely. Malik Mahmoud Saako, Director responsible for the museums, in an interview with Citi News, accused the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and the Municipal Assembly of complicity in the developer's alleged unlawful actions.

“The property has been entirely financed by the state, yet the private developer is asserting ownership. The matter is currently under judicial review, and no ruling has been issued that would authorize the demolition of the bungalows,'' he stated.

“The National Disaster Management Organization and the municipal assembly are complicit in this unlawful action by the private developer,'' he added.

The controversy has sparked widespread concern among residents and heritage preservationists, who fear the destruction of these historical buildings would irreparably harm Ghana's cultural heritage. The GMMB, established in 1957, is the legal custodian of Ghana's material cultural heritage, and its employees are resolute in their determination to protect these significant structures.

Source: Lead News Online