Five forest reserves developing into ecotourism

The Forestry Commission, in conjunction with the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), is developing five forest reserves in the Winneba Forestry District into ecotourism.

The reserves are Akrabong, Obotoumfo, Abasumba, Ahirasu Nos one and two, all near Awutu Bewuenum in the Awutu-Senya District.

Mr Edward Awuah, Coordinator for Awutu-Agona Ecotourism and an Official of Forestry Commission made this known when he and Mr Ernest Nkansah-Kwarteng, Winneba District Forestry Manager, and some students inspected the forests at Awutu Bewuenum.

The students from Cape Coast University, Cape Coast Polytechnic and Mfantsepim Senior High School visited the forest as part of the activities marking the celebration of Central Region World Tourism Day.

The day’s celebration was under the theme “Tourism Linking Cultures”.

Mr Awuah said the reserves had been named as Awutu-Agona Ecotourism of Southern Marginal Dry Forests.

He said the development of the ecotourism in the Awutu- Senya and Agona East Districts was to increase the knowledge and skills of the communities about forest conservation and alternative livelihood through training and education.

Mr Awuah said it would also help to generate revenue for the communities and District Assemblies.

Mr Nkansah-Kwarteng said the Forestry Commission had built a tourism centre at Awutu Bewuenum with hostel facilities for people who would visit the sites.

Mr Alex Boakye, Central Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board, appealed to the private sector to support the promotion of ecotourism in the region.

He appealed to the government and District Assemblies to provide assistance to the five newly emerging ecotourism sites to generate more revenue.

Mr Boakye said the statistics showed that 940 million people travelled across the globe to visit tourism sites to experience different cultures of the people.

Source: GNA