Meeting in Accra
Last week, on the 8th March, our collaborator Ola Uduku met with the Ghanaian team in Accra to discuss the project. This was a first opportunity to have a conversation in person between MSA and KNUST university as a part of this project and hopefully not the last one! Series of topics were talked through including various ways of online communications, the timetable of the event, access to ISDN line and a possibility of GIS training for both Manchester and Ghanaian students. We are looking forward to developing our collaboration and explore the Marine Drive Project together!

Marine Drive – Current Proposal
The current proposal has been designed by British-based architect David Adjaye of Ghanaian descend and his company Adjaye Associates for Ministry of Tourist and Culture of the Republic of Ghana. The design of this coastline project, so crucial for the history and identity of the country is currently confidential with a very limited amount of information available. One of the key sources of how the future waterfront is going to look like is this commercial video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0a1vPmbysI&t=150s .

It is not the first time when MSA works with KNUST university. Also, last year group of BA1, BA2 and MA1 students designed an ‘Accra Futurism’ exhibition and together with our Ghanaian friends built it in Accra in summer. The exhibition consisted of a series of posters and 3D printed models of key landmarks of city’s seaside, turned out to be a big success in Accra and was also exhibited in Kumasi. We hope to build on experience and legacy of previous year group to develop and consolidate the collaboration between both universities. For more information about the exhibition and last year collaboration, please check the website of West African Rapid Urbanisation and Heritage Network: https://waruh.wordpress.com/2019/06/25/accra-futurism-exhibition-archiafrika-gallery-jamestown-cafe-accra/

MSA Travel Grant
As a part of this project, we are planning to apply for MSA Travel Grant which would allow students to go to Ghana during the summer to develop further our collaboration and together with students from KNUST university design and built a physical exhibition to present our research. This idea proposed by the Ghanaian team enthusiastically welcomed by Manchester students would allow us to increase awareness of the project not only among students and scholars, but also make it accessible for various social groups and local residents. We would be really excited to see the analysed site of Marine Drive Project and meet in person with our collaborators!