Activities >> Sites

Ghana: Larabanga Mosque

Background

Larabanga Mosque was in a dangerous state of decay when it was listed on the 2002 World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites. The building had been deteriorating continuously since it was plastered with a waterproof cement coating in the 1970 which proved to be incompatible with the original structure. As part of the World Monuments Watch programme, American Express awarded a grant to implement a restoration and management programme.

Objectives

The aim of the Larabanga project was to completely restore the partially collapsed mosque, and reestablish a traditional surface protection by replacing the cement plaster applied in the 1970s. This new surface protection system, will require more regular maintenance, but is far cheaper and less destructive in the long term. Maintenance can easily be implemented by the population, even when the GMMB is unable to provide support. In addition, the project aims to generate funds for the regular site maintenance, by producing promotional products (post cards and booklets).

Structure

The restoration works were implemented by the local community between February and April 2003, with the technical assistance of the GMMB (Paul Duon Naa, AFRICA 2009 course participant in 2001, and 7 other GMMB staff members) and CRATerre-EAG. The second phase of the project was to prepare promotional documents (postcards, leaflet) that will serve to raise the necessary funds for the regular maintenance of the mosque.

Results in 2004

Promotional documents produced and sent to GMMB . Distribution and sale of these materials started. An additional quantity of the publication has been printed so that it could be distributed to course participants and directors though this publication also serves the purpose of disseminating information on the projet situés to the Africa 2009 network.

Members of Africa 2009 network involved

George Olympio (RC, TS, RP) Nicholas Ivor (RC) Paul Duon Naa (RC).