Presbyterian Church to develop tourist facilities

Abokobi, May 11, GNA - The Zimmermann Presbyterian Church at Abokobi in the Greater Accra Region is set to develop a number of tourist facilities estimated at about three billion cedis at Abokobi, Reverend Robert Amaakwei Boyefio-Quartey, District Minister of the Church, has said.

The facilities are aimed at generating income for developmental activities in the Abokobi community as well as opening the area for investors.

Rev. Boyefio-Quartey made this known to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Thursday after a press conference at Abokobi to outline activities for the celebration of the 150 years anniversary of the Church.

Activities marking the celebration include games, singing festival, food fair, bible quiz, music festival and drama, revival, exhibition and thanks giving service

The Reverend Minister said by October this year, a garden, estimated at about 600 million cedis would be completed, in honour of Reverend Johannes Zimmermann, a Basel Missionary who founded the Presbyterian Church at Abokobi about 150 years ago.

The Garden would be named "Zimmermann Memorial Garden". In the Garden would be the bust of Rev Zimmermann; a snack bar, five summer huts for relaxation and a place for meditation.

Other places of attraction, which are on the Church's agenda to be developed included the residence of the missionaries, a coffee plantation the missionaries established as well as the cemetery where their bodies were buried.

"It is my hope that after we have successfully executed our vision of making Abokobi a destination for tourist, the town will be opened to investors to establish businesses and create employment for the youth in Abokobi in particular and Ghanaians as a whole"

Rev Boyefio-Quartey commended the people of Abokobi for their selfless contributions towards developmental activities, which were initiated by the leaders of the town, describing them as "hard working ambassadors who are committed to leave exemplary legacies for the future generation."

He said the people in the community had agreed to make financial and communal contributions towards the venture.

The Reverend Minister, however, made an appeal to other religious bodies, individuals and benevolent organizations to make financial contributions to the church to enable it to achieve its vision. Nii Samuel Adjetey Mohenu, Chief of Abokobi, advised journalist to be circumspect, fair and truthful in their reportage in the forthcoming elections.

"I wish to advise that since the pen is mightier than the gun, please let your reporting on all issues in the country portray true Christian virtues especially during this election period. In a related development, Mr Sampson Ottu Darko, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ga North, presented two computers and its accessories valued at 12 million cedis to the Abokobi Presbyterian Junior Secondary School (JSS) to enhance computer literacy in the school.

The MP expressed the hope that the items would help the pupils to acquire basic knowledge in computer use, which he said was needed to introduce them to the world of Information Technology. Rev Boyefio-Quartey, who received the items on behalf of the school, thanked the MP for his gesture and assured him that the items would be put to good use.