Apam (C/R), Jan. 31, GNA - The Ghana at 50 Secretariat and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in "Greening Ghana" at this time of the year have been urged to suspend the exercise and invest the resources into improving conditions of our tourists attractions. Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, a member of Gomoa District Assembly who made the call, described conditions of some of our forts and castles as "eyesore".

"Greening Ghana" at this time when the harmattan is at its peak is a fruitless venture," the Assembly Member for Mamfam Electoral Area of Apam stated.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency after an inspection of Fort Patience, which was built by the Dutch at Apam in 1700, Mr Aidoo-Mensah described the forts and the castles as the number one tourist destinations in the country and lamented over how some of them were left to deteriorate for such a long time.

"We cannot celebrate a successful Golden Jubilee without giving our forts and castles a face-lift since they are going to attract the tourists who will be in the country for the anniversary." He called for immediate rehabilitation of the road leading to the Fort which had so deteriorated that no vehicle could get to the place and also called for the extension of electricity to the Fort. Mr Aidoo-Mensah said several appeals made by the youth of the town to the Museums and Monument Board to rehabilitate the Fort which now served as a rest house did not yield any fruitful results. Ghana's Golden Jubilee celebration should bring a new life into Fort Patience at Apam, he added.