Government to develop tourism sector

Paga, (UE) , Jan. 20,GNA - The Minister of Tourism, Ms. Juliana Azumah-Mensah has reiterated government's commitment to the development of the tourism sector and has therefore committed funds in the fiscal year to facilitate the process.

The Minister who made this known, during a tour of some tourist sites in the Upper Region, explained that Ghana attached much attention to the sector, because it was the third foreign exchange earner. Ms. Azumah-Mensah underscored the need for the district assemblies, traditional authorities and the public to collaborate with the sector by improving on tourism sites in their localities. She said tourism could be one of the major sources of revenue generation to supplement the traditional sources of raising money for the assemblies.

The minister said her sector ministry through the inter-ministerial committees would work to ensure that electricity, good accommodation, restaurants, road network and other tourist related facilities were provided to help attract more tourists.

She indicated that plans were far afoot to provide receptive centres for tourist sites in Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District. Ms. Azumah-Mensah said eco-tourism brigades would also be recruited to ensure good sanitation practices in the area. Some of the tourist sites the minister toured were the Tenzug Shrine, Sirigu Women's Organization (SWOPA) for Pottery and Arts and the Paga Crocodile Pond.

The Minister commended the founder of SWOPA, Mrs. Melanie Kasise for the establishment of the centre, which had employed about 450 people mainly women.

Mrs. Kasise and Naba John Bawa Zure, Chief of Tenzug in the Talensi-Nabdam District, appealed to the Minister to facilitate the provision of electricity, water, good roads and accommodation in the area.

Mr. Thomas Adda Dalu, District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana West District, briefed the minister about plans to collaborate with the Tourism Ministry and other stakeholders to ensure that tourist sites in the area were fully tapped for the benefit of the District.