The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs through the Monuments and Relics Commission (MRC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with World Monument Fund for the restoration of the edifice of Old Fourah Bay College.
The signing of the MoU was done at a brief ceremony held at the Ministry’s Kingharman Road Headquarters.
World Monument Fund is the implementing partner for the United States Ambassador’s Fund for cultural preservation grant that was awarded in 2021 to preserve Old Fourah Bay College building at Cline Town.
Having completed the first phase and presented preliminary findings of the building to the Ministry, the Principal Project Director for World Monument Fund, Stephen Battle, together with the Project Manager, Isatu Smith was at the Ministry to sign the MoU for the full restoration of one of the country’s monumental edifice.
Submitting a breakdown of what to be done to restore the building, the Principal Project Director, Stephen Battle said the first step is to bring the consultant, Aziza Chaouni and also sit with the Ministry and the MRC to decide on how the restoration will unfold.
On her part, Minister of Tourism of Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Tunis commended the arrangements that have gone into the process and also share their full cooperation to ensure that the project come into fruition. She thanked the team from World Monument Fund for their commitments while reiterating that the Ministry will continue to collaborate with them on this and other projects of mutual interest.
The signatories to the (MoU) for the restoration of Old FBC edifice were the Permanent Secretary, Edward Kwame Yankson, the Chairman of MRC, Joseph Kaifala and the Principal Project Director for World Monument Fund, Stephen Battle.The Deputy Minister, Khadijatu Grace Kamara, and the Administrative Manager of MRC, Ann-Marie Kamara were all part of the ceremony.