General News of Thursday, 28 June 2012

Source: GNA

University of Virginia to help modernize Cape Coast

A group from the University of Virginia, School of Architecture in collaboration with the Ghana Heritage Conservative Trust (GHCT) has outdoored a three-year project for the modernization of the Oguaa Township.

The project would among others target the Cape Coast Zongo, the Castle Area, the Castle Street and the Emintsimadze Gothic Palace.

A Co-Director of the 16-member delegation, Ms Gina Haney, said she had been living in Cape Coast for the past 16-years and has seen some of the major problems of the area such as the water problem in the Zongo community.

She said the inability of the people at the Cape Coast Zongo to harvest rain water for domestic usage had resulted in serious erosion and that the project will ensure that residents channeled the water into better use.

The Castle Square project was to see to it that fisher folks in the area got a better place to mend their nets during the day, adding that it would also serve as a stage for cultural performances to attract tourist.

Ms Haney said the group decided to create a pedestrian walkway by painting a section of the road so that school children especially will be safe on the road which stretches from the Emintsimadze palace to the forecourt of the Cape Coast Castle.

The Omanhen of Oguaa, Osaberima Kwesi Atta II, thanked the delegation saying the initiative will help strengthen the friendship between the city of Cape Coast and the University of Virginia.**