Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions

• Erosion (issue resolved in 1998 but significant again in 2019)
• Housing (issue resolved in 1998 but significant again in 2019)
• Management systems/ management plan (issue resolved in 1998 but significant again in 2019)
• Heavy rain (issue resolved in 1998 but significant again in 2019)
• Wind (issue resolved in 1998 but significant again in 2019)
• Salt-laden atmosphere (issue resolved in 1998 but significant again in 2019)

On 15 March 2019, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/34/documents/, and reports the following:

• The property’s protection status and management authority, the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), have been confirmed;
• Progress in addressing previous recommendations of the World Heritage Committee adopted in 1998 (CONF 203 VII.35) is indicated, as follows:
  • Two components previously used as prisons have been decommissioned and transferred to GMMB,
  • Cadastral surveys for some components will be undertaken, including the identification of property boundaries and buffer zones, as well as the preparation of title deeds,
  • The State Party intends to delineate buffer zones of 0.2 ha, but this depends on the availability of the surrounding land,
  • Activities to sensitize local communities and create awareness about the need to preserve heritage sites has been included in the 2019 work plan for GMMB,
  • Discussions on the sustainable use of the property are to include local communities;
• Some of the concerns raised by the Committee in 1998 about threats to the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) still persist and are now more significant, including environmental degradation, lack of buffer zones, development pressure and lack of funding for regular maintenance and conservation works. The GMMB has not yet prepared an Emergency Request for urgent conservation works, as requested by the Committee in 1998.  Other concerns are inadequate training and the lack of disaster risk management plans, though the State Party reports that the latter are to be prepared next year;
• A summary of the condition of most components in 2018 is presented, which notes no change since 1998;
• The preparation of the property Management Plan, supported with International Assistance funding, will commence soon. The Plan is scheduled to be completed by April 2020;
• A project for the restoration, reconstruction and adaptive re-use of Fort Amsterdam is to commence in March or early April 2019. The preliminary assessment and architectural documentation have been prepared, and European Union funding has been secured;
• Information is included about a proposed "Elmina Heritage Bay" tourism development project at St. George's Castle in Elmina, noting that preliminary documentation has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre;
• A 2015 survey was undertaken at James Fort in advance of restoration work, and a further structural investigation is to be undertaken subject to funding being obtained.

The State Party is aware of the threats to the property and is making some progress on a range of issues to improve its state of conservation. This includes development of the Management Plan, identification of boundaries and buffer zones, community awareness and disaster risk management plans.

However, with regard to threats, many have existed since at least 1998, and their increasing significance is a matter of concern. Recent heavy rains in Accra underscore the environmental pressures on the property. There are indications that some components are impacted by abandonment, the accelerated degradation of structures and the potential or actual disappearance of ruins. Several of the components comprising partial structures and traces of former fortifications might no longer exist.

The anticipated progress with the development of a Management Plan is a positive step. This should consider the current lack of effective site management for most components, as well as identified threats. At present, some level of protection and management is only available for the three large forts. The other forts are mostly abandoned, with accelerated degradation due to rising salts and humidity, lack of effective management, and the possibility of climate change impacts.

The steps taken to establish buffer zones for the property are welcome. However, the persisting absence of buffer zones may represent a particular threat as possible future large scale projects in and around the property's components, such as in Elmina and at Fort Amsterdam (see below), cannot take into account the necessary measures that would respect the protective provisions provided by these buffer zones. The delineation of a buffer zone of an adequate size for each component and the development of effective protection regimes is therefore of utmost urgency.

With regard to the "Elmina Heritage Bay" tourism development project at St. George's Castle in Elmina, the World Heritage Centre sent a letter to the State Party in October 2018, in line with Paragraph 174 of the Operational Guidelines, requesting further information on this project. On the basis of the material then submitted to the World Heritage Centre by the State Party in December 2018, a preliminary assessment was carried out, indicating potential negative impact on the property.

The works at Fort Amsterdam will involve the restoration and reconstruction of damaged areas of the fort and its subsequent adaptive re-use. The State Party reports that discussions regarding the project have been underway since 2003, but as already for the "Elmina Heritage Bay", it is regrettable that no prior information was submitted to the World Heritage Centre in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, before notification in the State Party’s report.

The State Party invited a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Advisory mission to visit the property from 28 April to 2 May 2019 to assess restoration and development projects at the two components of Fort Amsterdam and St. George's Castle (Elmina) in addition to the arrangements made to commence the preparation of the Management Plan. The mission report will be available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/34/documents/ before the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee and its results shared in advance with the Committee.

Given the range, longevity and significance of issues facing the property, it is recommended that a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission be carried out in early 2020 to consider the state of conservation of all the components of the property and the potential threats they are facing, the implementation of the recommendations from the Advisory mission, potential projects proposed, and progress with the delineation of buffer zones and the development of the Management Plan.