The Education and Outreach officer at the Monuments and Relics Commission, Mohamed Faray Kargbo, has acknowledged on Monday that, the old Fourah Bay College building at Cline Town is in a state of dilapidation.
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The Original Fourah Bay College building was in regular use till the Second World War, when the college was temporarily moved outside Freetown for security reasons. After the war it became the headquarters of the Sierra Leone Government Railway; and later as a Magistrate court in the 1980. The building ceased to be in use in early 1990. The Original Fourah Bay College building was proclaimed a National Monument in 1955, according to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Building is located on Wharf Road leading to Queen Elizabeth II Quay. Construction of this structure started in 1845 by the Rev. James Beale, a missionary builder, and it lasted for two years, costing more than two thousand pounds, according to the original estimate. It had a very similar architectural design as the Christ Church on Pademba Road and the Mabang Academy, that was to later house Fourah Bay College, and also the Kortright House, which is currently the official residence of the Principal of Fourah Bay College.
It was a massive four story building by the standards of the time, built of dressed stone blocks of laterite. What remains of this once majestic building is only its four external walls, after it had been burnt down in 1999 soon after the rebel invasion of Freetown on January 6.
At the old Fourah Bay College building one could observe that some member of the public are using the compound as a point for selling and consuming illegal substances like marijuana, “Kush” and other illegal substances.
Premier news also observed that other buildings in the compound are been frequented for other unknown purposes. “From observation and in addition to the present status of the building, it could be said that it is now a death trap rather than fulfilling its touristic value,” Kargbo added.
He attributed the dilapidation of the building to lack of funds from government which has prevented the Commission from restoring maintaining and protecting the historical building since it was burnt during the civil war in Sierra Leone.
“For the building to regain its former status it requires huge amount of money which governments have failed to provide. A proposal was made in 2014 by the commission to government toward restoring the building but up to date nothing has been done with regards to the proposal by government,” he said.
He also mentioned that since the reconstitution of the Commission in 2014 several unsuccessful approaches have been made to the Government of Sierra Leone and private sources seeking funding to start maintenance on the building. He added, “In the last six years efforts have been made to seek funding,” he said.
He insisted that although assessments have been done on the structure, it required international expertise as the building was constructed by stone masons. He added that Sierra Leone lacks some of the necessary experts that should embark in restoring the building to its former status.
He mentioned that because the Government of Sierra Leone in the past and present has failed to provide funding for the restoration and maintenance of the site.
“The Commission has engaged and submitted a proposal for funding to stakeholders at the World Monument Fund to provide the necessary funding to restore the building. But they are yet to receive funding from any external organization or heritage preservation company,” he said.
He added that the present dilapidated status of the building is a huge economic loss to the country, adding that if restored the building would create a difference in the tourism sector of Sierra Leone.
He said that if the building had been restored it could have housed the Department of History and African Studies at Mount Aureole.
By George M.O. Williams
22/07/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7871