The Ministry of Tourism on Wednesday said it would start acquiring archaeological sites this year to save them from destruction and further develop them into tourist sites.

It will also consider proposing to needy agencies connected to the issuance of building permits to ensure that all archaeological remains are excavated from historical sites before building permits are issued to land developers.

Mr Abraham S. Bekoe, Director of Research, Statistics and Information, Ministry of Tourism (MOT), announced the measures on behalf of the Tourism Minister, Madam Hawa Yakubu, at a seminar at Legon, as part of activities forming part of the fifth anniversary celebrations of the Legon Archaeology Students Association (LASA).

LASA is an association of about 700 students in the University of Ghana who have interest in Archaeology.

Hawa Yakubu said the nation abounds in historical, cultural and archaeological sites, but she has barely scratched the surface of the wealth that can be generated from such sites and called for concerted efforts between the ministry and other operators in the tourism industry to form a network to dig out all hidden relics.

Hawa Yakubu expressed concern about the destruction of the Tongo Hills in the Upper East Region, revered for its spiritual and cultural values, and said the MOT will acquire it to save it from destruction.

The Tourism Minister said it will spread the acquisition and development exercise throughout the country to make visible the benefits of preservation of historical sites for all.

She announced that the MOT, this year, is engaging historians and archaeologists to work seriously to document more literature on the slave markets and routes as easy reference for tourists.

Hawa Yakubu charged stakeholders in the tourism industry to increase efforts to market tourism in order to generate more employment revenue.

The Acting Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, Miss Regina Kpanga, in a speech read on her behalf said efforts should be made to preserve the nation's diverse cultural heritage.

She urged archaeologists to interpret tangible and intangible cultural resources to sustain tourists' interest to develop the tourism industry.

She mentioned Kintampo, in the Brong Ahafo Region, as one the archaeological sites, where well-documented tourism sites can be found.

Kintampo also has evidence of the first wattle and daub house and Begho, in the same region where iron smelting began.

Such areas, must be developed to boost domestic as well as international tourism. Miss Kpanga said tourism contributed 3.9 per cent to Gross Domestic Product last year, and its contribution to gross foreign exchange earning is currently over 250 million dollars.

It employs over 100,000 people and could become the nations prime foreign exchange earner if the current growth rate of 12 per cent is maintained.

She said a proposal has been submitted to government to generate revenue from visitor user facilities as tourism development and promotion levy with 80 per cent of all attraction fees at national museums and heritage sites to be kept for use at the site where they are generated.

The President of LASA, Mr Wazi Apo, described A archaeology as as the backbone of tourism, and said archeological explorations have increased the value of tourist sites.

He called for massive governmental support to document heritage sites so as to continue to attract foreign tourists for foreign exchange and national development.

Dr Isaac N. Debrah, Acting Director, Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, said he illegal removal of cultural objects from their sites is destroying relevant information.

He advised rural communities to be wary of dealers in fake art works. Dr Debrah said it is now easy, to quickly detect smuggled cultural objects, and by consensus among the international community.

Ghana's rare Koma terra cotta figurines have been classified and put on "the red list" on the internet. Dr Kodzo Gavua, lecturer of the Archaeology Department called for an urgent inventory on the nation's cultural heritage.

Among those who received certificates for their contributions towards the development of Archaeology were Prof. J. R. Anquandah, former Head of the Archaeology Department and Dean of the Social Science Faculty of the University of Ghana.