Wechiau Hippo sanctuary celebrates 10 years anniversary

Wechiau (UW), Oct. 14, GNA - Mr. Mahmud Khalid, Upper West Regional Minister, on Monday pledged government's commitment to provide the Wechiau Hippopotamus Sanctuary in the Wa West District, with good infrastructure to befit its status as an international tourist centre. He said provision of facilities such as good roads and drinking water in the community could significantly develop the sanctuary and in the long run make it attractive to international tourists, partners and donor agencies.

Mr. Khalid gave the pledge at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Wechiau community hippo sanctuary at Wechiau, which was organised by the Sanctuary Management Board (SMB) and the chiefs and elders of the community. He said the region was faced with lack of medical doctors and tasked the municipal and district assemblies to identify brilliant students and forward their names to him for sponsorship to be trained for the job. Mr. Seidu Tungbani, District Chief Executive said the assembly had approved all the bye-laws governing the sanctuary and forwarded them to the Attorney-General's Department to be gazetted as one of the major steps to the development of the tourist facility.

Naa Danyagri Walaman Seubah I, Chairman of the SMB said through the intervention of partners the sanctuary project had provided the surrounding communities with 13 boreholes, which had helped in reducing guinea worm infestation in the district.

About 546 solar panels had bee n installed in individual households to provide electricity to the people while a scholarship scheme had been instituted to assist brilliant but needy students in the area. He commended Conservation Outreach, Calgary Zoo and the Friends of Wechiau in Canada for their immense contribution to the sustainability of the project Mr. Brian Keating, Head of Conservation Outreach and Calgary Zoo said the project was a success as a result of the warmth, understanding and commitment exhibited by the people in the area. "The Project is unique not only because of the hippos but also because of the warmth and understanding of the people of Northern Ghana."