As part of commitment by the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Oteng-Gyasi, to further project Ghana on both the international and local scene, a Committee that would oversee the establishment of a Gold Museum in the country has been inaugurated.
According to her, the rationale behind the initiative is to attract more tourists into the country, considering that Ghana has been mining gold for the past 100 years, yet when tourists visited the country, there is no historical trail of mining artifacts to satisfy their curiosity.
Oteng-Gyasi, made these remarks during inauguration of the 10-Member Committee for under the Chairpersonship of Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, on the 12-March 2020, in Accra.
She said the tourism industry is a multi-billion industry and the fourth income earner of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Ghana is currently Africa’s leading gold producer.
The Minister indicated that when the Gold Museum is established in Ghana, given the country’s rich history in terms of gold exploration, tourists visiting the country can make time to visit the facility and appreciate the history surrounding gold mining in Ghana.
She charged the Committee members to live up to their task in choosing the most appropriate town for the museum which is expected to be sited in the Western part of the country.
On her part, the Chairperson of the Committee who was the longest serving CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, emphasized that, the stakeholders in the Chamber of Mines, have over the years contemplated establishing a Gold Museum but to no avail.
According to her, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi’s commitment to the realization of this initiative is a laudable one, hence all effort must be made by stakeholders in the gold industry in Ghana to support to the Minister to see to the realization of the project.
Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, further promised to avail her expertise to deliver on their mandate.
The Board Chairman of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, Kwame Sowu, remarked that the Committee might not need an entirely new building or structure for the Gold Museum Project, but can liaise with some Mining Companies, to allocate some of their old mining building which in itself can be a source of history as part of the museum.
The Committee has two months within which to complete its work, as per the Terms of Reference assigned to them, which are catalogued as follows;
To identify a suitable town, location or piece of land to establish the Museum.
To map out plans towards the acquisition of land documents and other documents as may be necessary for the establishment of the Museum.
To advise on technical assistance to work out plans towards the execution of the project.
To liaise with the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board to identify material of Historical and Archaeological value for the museum.
The rest are:
To engage the Mining Industry for collaboration and participation.
To map out strategies to solicit funds from corporate bodies and private organizations for the preparations, constructions and to equip the Museum.
To undertake any other activity which in the opinion of the Committee, will enhance its work.
Members of the Committee comprises; Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, as the Chairperson, The Principal Tourism Officer at the Tourism Ministry, Dr. Geoffrey Tamakloe as secretary. Other members includes; Mireku Duker (MP) Tarkwa- Nsuaem Constituency, in the Western Region, Executive Director, Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mr. Adogla, Chief Director, Ministry of Lands and Resources, Mr. Maxwell Boateng, Executive Director, Obuasi Gold Fields, Mr. Robert Siaw, Board Chairman of Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, Mr. Kwame Sowu, and the Representative of Ghana Tourism Authority Mr. Ekow Sampson.
