 Owing to the effect of prevailing winds and rains on the walls , the mosque has needed several renovations and restoration work which over the years have altered some of its exterior designs . In September 2002 , a severe storm destroyed the mihrab and the minaret . As a result , the World Monuments Fund ( WMF ) placed the mosque on the 2002 World Monuments Watch , also considering the damage sustained after an inappropriate restoration from the 1970s . The Ghana Museums and Monuments Board decided to fully restore the mosque and sought advice from <unk> , an architectural firm based in Grenoble , France which has expertise in building earthen structures . The renovation work was supported by a WMF , with a grant fund of US $ 50 @,@ 000 from American Express . The local community also provided support . The conservation process involved removal of the earlier cement plaster from the surfaces of the mosque , the wooden structural components were replaced , the minaret and the mihrab were reconstructed , the portal was redone , and the interior and exterior surfaces were plastered in the traditional way . The renovation resulted in reassessing the state of conservation of the site , involving a team of local artisans and labourers . It helped to restore the monument with special emphasis on reviving the knowledge of mud @-@ plaster maintenance . 
