Minister appeals to assemblies to develop tourist sites

Hohoe, Aug 01, GNA - Mr Joseph Kwaku Nayan, the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, on Monday appealed to municipal and district assemblies to improve on tourist attraction sites by allocating funds for their development.

He said the tourism sector could become the leading foreign exchange earner when both governmental and non-governmental organizations complemented each other towards the development of the sector.

Mr Nayan said this at a durbar of chiefs and people of Gbi Traditional Area in honour of a delegation from the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association (CPA) on a one-day tour of the Hohoe District. Ghana is hosting the 37th CPA (Africa Region) Conference in Accra slated for July 28 to August 05. Mr Nayan commended the Hohoe District Assembly for making giant steps in the development of its tourist sites including an insurance cover for all sites and the placement of the district on the Internet.

Mr Dennis Marshall, the General Secretary of the CPA, called for the protection and sustenance of natural and tourists' resources, which is a pull factor in contemporary tourism industry worldwide. He however asked for value addition to make the tourists attraction sites a preferred choice and destination for both local and international clientele.

Togbega Gabusu, the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, said there should be accelerated development in the tourism industry. Mr Alfred Mpontshane, a delegate from South Africa, told the Ghana News Agency that Ghana's traditional system was unique as there was a correlation between tradition and democracy.

"This provides a perfect blend for the sustainability and deepening of good governance."

Mr John Ndebugre, Member of Parliament for Zibilla said he was saddened because his first visit to the Wli Waterfall was at the instance of the CPA and called on the public to patronize tourist sites.