Tourism Ministry To Resolve Disputed Waterfalls

Mr Jake Obestebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, on Wednesday pleaded with parliament for more time to find out if two waterfalls, Osubin and Akumersu both in the Eastern Region, are the same or two separate waterfalls.

The Minister said Osubin Waterfalls, located at Osubin community about 13 kilometres from the Akumersu Waterfalls, appear to be the same bearing two different names because the ownership of the waterfalls is in dispute.

Mr Obestebi-Lamptey was responding to a question in Parliament by Mr. Stephen Amoanor Kwao, NDC-Upper Manya Krobo, who wanted to know what plans the Ministry, has to improve upon the rich tourist potentials of the Akumersu Waterfalls.

The Minister, who immediately replied referring to the waterfalls as Osubin, was however told by some members of the House that Osubin and Akumersu are two separate waterfalls in two separate districts.

"It is worth mentioning, however, that the ownership of the waterfalls is in dispute. Two districts, that is, Fanteakwa and Manya Krobo are both claiming ownership of it. With this in view, my Ministry will work with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural development to settle the matter".

"This will facilitate the development, packaging and marketing of the falls," The Minister said.

He said the initiative for the development of the waterfall should, however, come from the district assemblies by way of "zoning the land around the fall to protect and conserve it as well as provide the infrastructure to encourage visitation."