The Osu castle, once an impregnable and invincible seat of power, is a pale shadow of itself.
The castle, famed for both the good, bad and ugly tales, earned both notoriety and awe during the heady days of former President Rawlings.
The tales about the castle, built by Danes in 1661, are many and varied. They range from alleged torture of political detainees to church sermons, all surrounding the various presidents who once occupied it.
Almost every president starting from Kwame Nkrumah to Atta Mills, who died in office, operated from the former slave castle.
But barely five years after the demise of President Mills who last occupied it, the once fearsome edifice, now a presidential museum, is fast deteriorating.
Filth has taken the better part of sections of the building, while presidential limousines, which once carried the number one gentlemen of the country, have been left at the vagaries of the weather. Limousines of General Acheampong, former president Rawlings, and Kufuor are just at mercy of nature.
The ravages of the sea are telling on rusty metals, and cracked structural work. The cycle of deterioration is disturbing, giving that the edifice with its contents, if well preserved by the Authorities could earn the country millions of dollars in revenue annually.
And did you know that the room that Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the second occupied, in 1957 and 1960 is still being kept intact at the castle, complete with the WC bowl, etc? Think of how many people would like to feel the bed on which the Queen of England once slept, and you will understand the paradox of poverty in the midst of wealth.
Source: Aidoo Portia
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This can be leased to serious investors to be developed into a hotel or resort. Why allow it to rot?
I live in the UK. Please I will like to come down and manage it well you will love it again. What is wrong with Ghana? always leaving things/buildings to rot. (No maintenance in Ghana) All old buildings are left to decay. Just come to Britain and you will see castles and buildings dating back to some centuries and and you will marvel at their restoration. The Osu castle is our history, please do something about it. I am an Osu born and bred, I remember when as a kid in the 50s we used to go to the castle for Flowers day celebrations. 'Fofoi agbi dzuro'(Ga) and it was spectacular.
i want to buy and operate it as private tourist centre and pay my taxes regularly. cantact me :
THE BLACK MAN CANNOT MANAGE ANYTHING. EVEN WHAT THE WHITE MAN LEFT FOR HIM
Great piece. I hope our leaders are listening. There are so many such buildings strewn along the Ghanaian coast.
We must maintain it and keep it to teach the youth about the history of slavery and how colonialism and the colonialist's ravaged Ghana and Africa, to imprint in their very soul, never ever to let it happen again. And to look to the future of prosperity, progress, limitless opportunities, stability, security and wealth through dedication, hardwork, patriotism, fellow feeling, vision, tenacity, boldness, resoluteness and an unflinching focus to change Ghana and Africa to be all it is destined to be, instead of the scorn, disdain, derision, resentment and ridicule we have become, when Africa is the wealthiest, the wealthiest continent on the planet. The times call for our leaders to walk majestically, boldly and firmly into the destiny of Africa on the back of incorruptibility. It cannot wait any longer. The time is now for Africa to actuate and realize it's destined greatness and power, being critically mindful of our history, including what such relics represent.