The Afadjato-Agumatsa Conservation Project in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region has changed the lives of people living in the two traditional areas.
Visitors to the place, which is one of the fastest growing eco-tourism sites in the country, feel they are in touch with nature.
This is because the atmosphere is so serene, relaxed and the vegetation so lush. There is also the Wli Water Falls, the highest fall in the West Africa, a few kilometres away, which is a place of relaxation for many.
The 10-year project, which was started in 1999 with lands donated by the chiefs and people of two traditional areas - the Gbledi and Fodome Ahor - focuses on the conservation of biodiversity.
It also ensures sustainable supply of forest resources on the Afadjato range.
It was initiated by the Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS) and sponsored by the Royal Netherlands Embassy.
To add to the beauty at the background of the Agumatsa range is the Mount Afadja, the highest mountain in the country, which provides two developed trails to the summit for those who want to hike.
To ensure the comfort of tourists to the place, various facilities, such as visitor centre, summer hats, potable water, recreational park, restaurant and toilet facilities, have been constructed.
And for tourists who want to sleep overnight, a 10–bed room guest house, funded by the British High Commission, is at their service.
The guest house is located at Fodome Ahor, which is seven kilometres from the project site at Gbogame.
The visitor centre is located at Gbledi Gbogame, 24 kilometres Southeast of Hohoe and about 250 kilometres from Accra.
The 12-kilometre square area is home to over 33 mammals, 150 bird species and 350 butterflies and about 430 plant species of various socio-economic values.
And to prevent the degradation of the forest, the people have benefited from various micro-finance schemes and engage in income-generating activities to improve their livelihood.
According to the Project Manager, Mr Hanson Agboso, last year, the project generated over GH¢4,500 from tourists. The amount has been disbursed among the three stakeholders, namely the traditional authorities, land lords and the Hohoe Municipal Assembly.
This year, he projected that they were expecting between 75,000 and 100,000 visitors, and urged the people to be more interested in eco-tourism since the country is endowed with beautiful and educational tourist sites.
The only setback to the development of tourism in the municipality is the poor road network from Liati Agbonyra to the tourist spots of Afadjato, Agumatsa Range and the Wli Waterfalls, which is impassable.
This is due to the shoddy work done by the contractor, who has abandoned the project for more than a year now.
During a fact-finding tour of the area by the Daily Graphic, it was observed that although the drains and some of the culverts had been constructed, the road had not been surfaced.
As a result of this, the recent rains have had their toll on the road, because of the deep gullies and trenches.
What is even more worrying is that the tax payer’s money so far expended on the abandoned projects far exceeds what is left to complete it.
The situation has resulted in motorbike owners doing brisk business and charging GH¢3 per pillion rider for a short journey.
The road was to open up the tourist sites located in the area. It is, however, alarming that the Hohoe Municipality, which has the highest tourist centres in the country, has very poor road network leading.
These centres include the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary,the Likpe caves, just to mention a few.
No comments:
Post a Comment