Deputy Minister of Tourism tours project sites of the Monuments and Relics Commission (MRC)

By Mohamed Faray Kargbo

The Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has completed an on-the-spot tour of the project sites of the Monuments and Relics Commission Thursday 12th May, 2016.

Adrian Bellah Fofanah went in the company of the Chairperson of the Commission, Ms Isatu Smith and a Senior Cultural Officer at the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Ishmail Kamara.

Together they visited the Sierra Leone National Museum, the St John Maroon’s Church at Siaka Stevens Street, the De-Ruyter Stone at King Jimmy market, the King’s Yard Gate at Connaught Hospital, the National Railway Museum and Old Fourah Bay College building at Cline Town.

The visit was part of the familiarization tour of facilities under the purview of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs by one of the newly appointment ministers.

At the Sierra Leone National Museum, the Curator, Josephine Kargbo took the Deputy Minister and the Chairperson round the museum showing the relics and artefacts at the museum. The Curator expressed concern that the edifice is becoming smaller everyday due to the large collection of materials they need to display.

Ongoing works at the St John’s Maroon Church was inspected by Mr Bellah Fofanah. He stressed the need to maintain the original infrastructure at the church owing to its rich historical past. He expressed similar sentiments on the preservation of the King’s Yard Gate. The Deputy Minister expressed concern about the De-Ruyter’s Stone which was in a precarious situation due to adverse weather conditions on its present locations.

The Chairperson and the Deputy Minister lamented on the harsh environmental pollution that characterized the National Railway Museum and the need to speed up the ongoing rehabilitation works. He said that these facilities must be marketed to the whole world to attract tourists form across the world. The visit ended at the Old Fourah Bay College building where squatters have occupied the facility. A perimeter fence has been completed with a secured gate.

Deputy Minister Adrian Bellah Fofanah said he was satisfied with the work of the MRC and pledged Government’s continued support to the Cultural and tourism industry to promote the national heritage of Sierra Leone.

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