Squatters Take Over National Monument

The Ussher Fort in Accra, which is supposed to be one of the country?s monuments and tourist sites has been taken over by squatters, some of whom have used the ancient building as their home for several years.

The structure which is one of the 32 forts that line the coast of Ghana had served as a residence for the Dutch and the British during the colonial era. It was later turned into a prison after Ghana?s independence.

According to Dr Prosper Yao Dzamefe, Director of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, the abandoned fort, one of the antique edifices in the country is to be renovated by UNICEF to serve as a leading tourist site in the country. Meanwhile, efforts are under way to evict the squatters from the fort.

One of the squatters, Annan Sackey, told The Mirror that he had lived at the Ussher Fort for about three years and did not have any intentions to move out now. Asked why he chose to stay at the fort, he said the place was secure as it was close to the James Fort Prisons.

Yaw Asare who moved from Takoradi to Accra and found a dwelling place at the Ussher Fort, also revealed that staying at the place was good for him since his meagre income was not enough to raise money to pay the exorbitant rents that houses in Accra attracted.

Apart from the forts, the country can also boast of other monuments such as the 15 Asanti Traditional Buildings and some mosques, one of which is the Larabanga Mosque in the Northern Region.

There are some palaces in the country which are also regarded as monuments. The Wa Naa?s palace is one of them.

Investigations by The Mirror have revealed that forts and castles in the country generate more funds than the museums due to the high patronage by tourists who visit them to learn, at first hand, the history of the country, and also trace their ancestral roots.