Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Abla Gomashie, has inaugurated a joint Ghana-Korea Heritage Project Steering Committee to oversee a five-year programme aimed at strengthening the preservation and climate resilience of Ghana’s heritage sites.
The committee will provide strategic direction, coordinate implementation and ensure accountability as Ghana and South Korea work together to protect the country’s cultural heritage.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ms Gomashie said the formation of the committee marked an important milestone in the partnership between the two countries, following several preparatory activities.
She cited policymakers’ training, a university symposium, a community dialogue in Jamestown, as well as ongoing technical planning and baseline studies, as some of the progress already made under the project.
The Minister said the scale and duration of the initiative required a strong governance structure to ensure that the partnership translated into measurable outcomes.
“This is the role of the Steering Committee,” she said, adding that members would be responsible for providing strategic oversight, taking timely decisions and holding implementing partners accountable.
Ms Gomashie said the committee’s terms of reference clearly define its decision-making processes, the shared ownership of the project and the roles of the joint secretariats, which will be managed by the Ghana Commission for UNESCO and the Korea National Commission for UNESCO.
She said clearly defining the responsibilities of the Steering Committee and the Technical Committee would help prevent delays, duplication and uncertainty during implementation.
The Minister urged members to take their responsibilities seriously and approach their roles as a working assignment rather than a ceremonial position.
Heritage protection and Ghana-Korea relations
Ms Gomashie said the project would go beyond the physical preservation of heritage sites, with cultural exchange and people-to-people engagement also expected to strengthen relations between Ghana and South Korea.
She described the initiative as an opportunity for both countries to deepen their cultural ties while developing practical approaches to protecting Ghana’s heritage for future generations.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Secretary-General of the Korea National Commission for UNESCO, Dr Hyunik Hong, commended Ms Gomashie for her leadership and commitment to the partnership.
He said the inauguration marked the transition from a shared vision to concrete action.
Dr Hong identified climate-risk mapping, digital surveying and 3D modelling, joint research, the establishment of a monitoring facility and capacity building for local heritage site managers as key areas of the project.
He said the interventions would help establish a data-driven and climate-resilient approach to heritage management.
The Steering Committee, he added, would coordinate partnerships, uphold scientific standards and guide implementation through 2030 and beyond.
He reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to working with Ghanaian institutions to achieve the objectives of the project and establish sustainable approaches to climate-adaptive heritage management.
Equipment to strengthen conservation efforts
As part of the partnership, the Korean team has provided equipment, technology and logistical support for the project.
Some of the equipment has already been delivered, while the remaining items are expected to arrive by November 2026.
The equipment includes laptops and desktop monitors, data management software, digital microscopes, ultrasonic testing devices, a magnetic susceptibility meter, strength-test rebound hammers, non-destructive moisture meters, calipers, crack gauges and crack-monitoring sensor systems.
Other specialised equipment expected to be supplied includes an infrared thermal imaging camera, drones, high-resolution camera equipment, a 3D scanner, cameras and lenses, as well as GPS survey instruments.
The equipment is expected to strengthen Ghana’s ability to scientifically assess, document, monitor and conserve heritage structures.
It will also support the transfer of technical knowledge and skills to Ghanaian professionals working in heritage management.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is chaired by Ms Dzifa Abla Gomashie and includes Dr Hyunik Hong, Secretary-General of the Korea National Commission for UNESCO; Prof Osman Tahidu Damba, Secretary-General of the Ghana Commission for UNESCO; and Kwesi Essel Blankson, Acting Executive Director of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.
Representatives from the UNESCO Accra Office, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Finance are also members.
The project is expected to improve Ghana’s capacity to document, monitor and protect heritage sites from climate-related threats while promoting research, technological innovation, community participation and sustainable heritage management.
