Apam (C/R), April 29, GNA - The Apam Youth and Development Association has appealed to the National Museums and Monuments Board and other relevant stakeholders to take immediate steps to save Fort Patience at Apam from further deteriorating.

Other bodies the Association called on were the Gomoa District Assembly and the Dutch Embassy in Ghana to support the move.

Making the appeal at Apam on Monday, Mr John Otabil, President of the Association said the Fort, which was built by the Dutch in 1700 had been in a very deplorable state due to neglect.

"There is no light and water at the place, which was converted to be a rest house after the abolition of the obnoxious slave trade," Mr Otabil said and added that, the 400-metre road from the town to the Fort is very bad making accessibility difficult.

He said since the Fort was on the nation's tourist map, tourists kept on trooping the place only to be disappointed because of the deplorable nature.

Mr Otabil said several appeal to the National Museums and Monument Board and the District Assembly to put the place in order did not yield any result.

"We are now appealing to the Dutch Embassy, which we believe will not like the effort of their forefathers to be in vain, to help to restore the Fort to its past glory."

"We also invited the Minister for Tourism and Diaspora Relations to visit the place to see things for herself," he added. He said a lot of money could be generated for the Ministry and the Assembly when the place was rehabilitated.