Accra April 16, GNA - Citizens of Twifo, Hemang, Mokwa and Denkyira in the Upper and Lower Denkyira districts are to build a Cultural Village estimated to cost five million dollars at Jukwa in the Central Region. The Village, which would serve as an Eco-tourist centre if built would assist in projecting the culture of Denkyira, Twifo and Mokwa.

The people would execute the project in collaboration with the Women Community Impact Ghana, a non-governmental organization and with support from the Nina Simone Foundation in the United States. The Village that would be named Nina Simone Village would serve as a centre for training people in cultural activities and the learning of local languages and for promoting informal education.

Mr Richard Anane Adabor, District Chief Executive (DCE) of Upper Denkyira, briefing the GNA on the project, said the Village if built would assist in portraying Ghanaian culture and serve as a tourist centre thereby giving the country some economic benefits. He said the University of Cape Coast would be affiliated to the Village and organize exchange programmes for interested Ghanaian and foreign students to study the Ghanaian culture.

Mr Adabor said, the Cultural Village would have a library of films and artefacts, an entertainment and conference hall, a restaurant, accommodation, supermarket and stores, hostel for foreign students as well as a clinic.

He said the centre would also have a recreational centre, a children's park, volley and long tennis pitches, and a football park, among others.

Mr Abraham Dwumah Odoom, DCE for Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira commended the people for initiating plans to build a cultural Village to project the cultural heritage.

He thanked Nana Boa-Amponsem and Nana Yamoah chiefs from the area for releasing 50 acres of land for the project.

Mr Odoom said the village would serve a Centre for writing the true and hidden history of the people of Denkyira.

Miss Harmain Kelly, Director of Women Community Impact told the GNA that a sod-cutting ceremony would take place on April 21 for work on the project to start.

Ms Kelly said her organization and the Nina Simone Foundation were supporting the Cultural Village Project, because when completed. It would be a home for both Africans in the Diaspora and those in Africa. Giving a brief history about Nina Simone, Ms Kelly said she was a Black activist and had a lot of love for the African continent, hence efforts being made to build a cultural village in her memory.

She said apart from promoting the culture of the people, Village would assist in the economic development of the Upper and Lower Denkyira districts.