WLI-AFEGAME WOOS TOURISTS TO WLI WATERFALLS (PAGE 40)

THE people of Wli-Afegame in the Hohoe District of the Volta Region have now realised the need to woo tourists to the Wli Waterfalls, the highest in West Africa.
In this regard, they have reconstituted the Wli Tourist Management Committee (TMT) to run the affairs at the site.
After only two years of operation, the committee has acquired a 15-seater Nissan mini bus, valued at GH¢30,600, a sound system worth GH¢1,500 and cables worth GH¢1,700 for street lights.
In addition, GH¢4,500 has been spent on the construction of foot bridges over Agumatsa River, a tributary of the fall, as well as a television set and a DVD for people who cannot reach the fall to watch it on screen.
The site, which is fast attracting tourists, has, however, been neglected by the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) in terms of development.
A tour of the site recently showed a gloomy picture. Although the site is generating much resources for the government, it has seen very little development.
As of the end of March, this year, more than GH¢2,000 had been realised from tourists while more than GH¢58,700 revenue was realised in 2007.
During this year’s Easter festivities alone, which attracted more than 3,500 people, the site generated about GH¢3,000.
A typical example of the GTB’s neglect of the site is that a tourist village, started in 2003, has come to a standstill, while the road leading to the place is deplorable.
There is neither a decent lorry park at the site nor any public place of convenience to cater for the large number of people who visit the place. What a pity! Again, at this time when the whole world has become a global village, one cannot communicate to the rest of the country from Wli.
Work on the extension of telephone is, however, progressing steadily in four tourist sites including the Wli Waterfalls. The rest are Gbledi, where the Afadjato, the highest mountain in Ghana, is found, Liati-Wote where the Tagbo falls are sited, and Tafi Atome, which has the Monkey Sanctuary.
According to the Chairman of the TMT, Mr Nicholas Harry Agbelie, land had been acquired for telecommunication operators to invest in the area.
Last year, more than GH¢4,000 being part of the revenue from the operation of the Wli Waterfalls was disbursed to four communities in the Wli Traditional Area, namely, Afegame, Agoviefe, Todzi and Dzogbega, to supplement their development efforts.
The aim of the donation was to provide alternative livelihood for people whose lands were acquired for projects around the waterfalls.