The Gambia government has been urged to protect the country’s rich cultural heritage to help boost the ailing economy for growth and close the rising unemployment gap.

This call was made by development partners during a landmark cultural heritage gathering organised by Heritage Management Project for Gambia that aims to promote arts, culture, and tourism into heritage preservation heritage.

In his speech, Evangelos Kyriakidis, director of Heritage Management Project for Gambia, urged the government to zealously safeguard the country’s cultural heritage into a national icon

“The government, civil society, and private sector must continue to work together and strive to safeguard Gambia’s cultural heritage, and transform it into a pillar national heritage,” he said.

For his part, Abdou Jobe, the Minister of Tourism and Culture, assured the government’s commitment to incorporating the country’s cultural heritage for both economic and tourism development.

“As a government, we are committed to integrating cultural heritage in our broader agenda for economic and tourism development,” he assured the gathering.

He described the country’s cultural heritage as a cornerstone of “our identity as an important driver of our national development.”

Also speaking, Mrs. Enrica Pellacani, head of cooperation, EU Gambia, underscored that by protecting cultural heritage sites and museums will help attract more tourism and boost economic growth in the artistic and hospitable industries.

By Adama Makasuba