Accra, March 20, GNA - Mr. Joseph Prempeh Maise, Acting Director, Ghana Museums and Monuments Board on Tuesday called on government to inject more capital into the activities of the Museums and Monuments to save it from its current deplorable conditions.

He said as a nation committed to economic development, there was the need for government to consider the area as one of its priorities since a country's development was determined by its cultural heritage.

Speaking at the opening of the Refurbished National Museum in Accra, Mr Maise said the National Museum which was established on the eve of Ghana's Independence had over the years been abandoned and that it was unfortunate that the Ghana@50 Secretariat did not include the Museum as one of the beneficiaries of the its fund disbursement. He commended Nestle Ghana Limited and the Swiss Embassy in Accra for their contribution to the refurbishment of the museum.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture said the Board as a legal custodian of the material cultural heritage of Ghana, had been at the forefront of the preservation and restoration of the movable and immovable cultural assets of the country.

He said the Board had over the years endured painful situation for quite a long time as its facilities deteriorated due to inadequate funding.

He commended the Swiss Embassy for the assistance and expressed the hope that the assistance would enhance the contributions of the board towards national development.

Mr Georg Zubler, (note ed Georg is correct) Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, said the board had made meaningful contributions by being the custodian of the country's cultural heritage, which was necessary for the development of the country.

He said the board served an important role as it portrayed the country's consciousness to the world, which was necessary for social and economic development.

He said the cultural heritage determined the riches of a country and pledged more support for the board.