The famous Larabanga mosque in Bole, a town in north-west Ghana, has partially collapsed following severe rainfall.
The mud roof of the Bole Mosque crumbled after years of disregard and termite infestations. Museum officials in Ghana said the infestation of termites weakened the wooden rafters holding the structure in place, causing it to give way after a heavy downpour.
The religious site which is made mostly of mud, was built between the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.
The Larabanga Mosque, which is one of the oldest mosques in Ghana is often referred to as the “Mecca of West Africa.” The mosque’s architecture is unique and has attracted vacationers and researchers interested in African Islamic heritage.
The local people who are familiar with its architecture are expected to speed up work on its renovation.
Ghanaian museum authorities have pleaded with residents to not pull down the remnants of the mosque in order to build a new one. The collapse of the mosque has also been blamed on the use of modern materials like cement during repairs and maintenance.
In terms of its distinctive architecture, the Bole Mosque is similar to the renowned Larabanga Mosque in Tamale.
It is made of mud on frameworks of wooden poles. Short lengths of protruding poles are buried into buttresses, giving the mosque its unique appearance.
The building is an example of neo-Sudanese influences, which led to the formation of predominately Islamic communities in northern Ghana, especially in the Wala and Gonja states.
There are similar mud mosques in neighbouring West African countries, notably the Djenne in Mali.