Axim (W/R), Jan. 26, GNA - Forts and castles scattered along the beaches in the Western Region are in virtual ruins and need urgent repairs from leaking roofs and painting as most of the facilities are lying idle, while others are in complete ruin with no guides to assist tourists.

A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the forts and castles in the Region beginning from Shama to Half Assini revealed that apart from the absence of tour guides at some of these colonial buildings, they have not received any patronage from tourists for sometime now.

Presently the Western Region can boast of seven of such colonial edifices - Fort Sebastian, Shama, Fort Orange at Sekondi, Fort Batenstein, Butre, Fort Metal Cross, Dixcove, Fort Groot Friedrichsburg, Prince's Town, Fort Saint Anthony at Axim and Fort Apollonia in Beyin. Though the World Heritage Convention of UNESCO has designated these forts and castles as heritage monuments, nothing positive has been done to preserve these colonial trading centres and monuments.

At the moment Fort Batenstein, located between the Busua Beach Resort at Busua and the Butre community lies in ruins while Fort Metal Cross at Dixcove, is owned by a British and is being converted into a Museum and Guest House.

Already indigenes living around Fort Metal Cross have been relocated, while lands surrounding it have been acquired. Fort Orange at Sekondi, now serves as a lighthouse of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) while some of its junior staff live there.

In an interview, Mr Michael Kpimgbi, a Senior Resource Officer of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) said the forts could be rehabilitated and converted into museums and tourist sites.

He noted that these forts if properly managed could become a source of employment for the youth, while income from tourists could facilitate community development and reduce poverty.

Mr Kpimgbi suggested the provision of chalets, restaurants and other social activities around the forts to attract tourists. He said artefacts of the respective communities, chieftaincy regalia, photographs of prominent indigenes, festivals, books, costumes and other traditional wear, could be displayed, while guides would be equipped to re-tell the histories of the areas and the role the forts played to tourists.

He noted that the GTB was ready to provide training for guides of the various forts to improve their communication skills and courtesy to make them effective in the discharge of their duties.

Mr Kinsley Quayson, a Senior Caretaker at Fort Antonio at Axim said the Fort, which was built in 1515 had 32 rooms and formerly served as offices for the Ghana Education Service (GES), Judicial Service and the District Assembly but had now been abandoned, after the organisations were allocated buildings in the town.

He said the Fort could attract more tourists if the appropriate rehabilitation works were done.

Mr Quayson said the Fort needed painting and promotion to attract both domestic and foreign tourists.