Abiriw waterfalls should become tourist sites - MP

Mr Dan Botwe, Member of Parliament for Okere in the Eastern Region, has called on the Ministry of Tourism to resource the Tourist Development Authority, to be able to expand tourist sites in the country.

He said this would create jobs for the youth and prevent them from travelling to the cities to seek for non-existing employment opportunities.

Mr Botwe made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after he had led queen mothers, the youth, opinion leaders and others to the Abiriw Waterfalls at Abiriw, near Akropong Akuapim in the Eastern Region.

The programme, which also forms part of the regional audition of contestants for Miss Tourism 2013, was on the theme: “Youth, Our Responsibility in Promoting Tourism in the Eastern Region and Ghana.”

The group undertook a health walk from Adukrom to Abiriw Waterfalls to Mamfe through Akropong, accompanied by brass band music.

Mr Botwe said if the Abiriw Waterfalls is developed, it would draw tourists and investors from outside the country to facilitate the creation of job opportunities and revenue for the people, to help carry out development activities.

Nana Mintah Kesewaa, Ankorbeahemaa of Abiriw appealed to investors, philanthropists and non-governmental organisations to assist the area to develop the available waterfalls.

She pledged 20 bags of cement for the construction of walls around the waterfalls.

Nana Kesewaa appealed to the Department of Feeder Roads and the Akropong Municipal Assembly to re-gravel the two- kilometre feeder road leading to the waterfalls from Abiriw.

Nana Kwame Henaku, Chief of Abiriw said the Waterfalls was founded in the 13th centuries by their ancestors in a thick forest, where they pay homage to remember their past relatives during the annual Yam festival.