Story and Pix: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga
The tourism sector in the Upper East Region has a great potential. Sadly, most of these tourists sites have either been neglected or those that have witnessed some appreciable developments in the past have been left to deteriorate.
One would have hoped that the various Municipal and District Assemblies in whose jurisdiction these sites falls would have adopted some of these sites and invested in its development so that in the long run, make their respective district would become the preferred tourism destination in the country, not to talk about the economic benefits that it would bring to the people.
From Widnaba in the Bawku West District through Kulungungu and Pusiga in the Bawku Municipality to Woriyanga in the Garu-Tempane District a number of eco-tourism sites and other tourist attractions have been abandoned.
Tourist destinations that could become a “gold mine” have been neglected while the people and the respective district assemblies wallow in poverty. In actual fact, the District Assemblies could have put development of these sites it in its development agenda to harness the site for income generation but sad to say, this has not been the priority of most assemblies.
Attractions.
Widnaba Eco-Tourism Site
The stunning natural hilly destinations in the Bawku West District, it is one of the communities in the Red Volta River Valley and a migratory corridor for a small population of Africa Savannah Elephants. One can take a hike to the surrounding hillside accompanied by tour guides. From the apex of the hills, the views are fantastic, and you can see far into Burkina Faso.
In the past Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC), a Ghanaian non-profit, private voluntary organization implementing conservation initiatives to promote a greater awareness and protection of the natural, historic and cultural diversity in Ghana, embarked on an initiative to and market the eco-tourism sites in the region including Widnaba.
He said under the intervention, visitors reception center was constructed, while a guest houses (huts) were also been built at the site. In addition, dustbins, sanitation equipment and directional signs were provided to aid tourists visiting the sites.
Today, the sites are in ruins. The facilities provided have all deteriorated.
A Tour guide, Abdul Karim told the Daily Graphic, that the number of tourists that used to visit the facility have dwindled as a result of deterioration of facilities at the site.
“Some tourists would in the past come over to camp and what nature have in store for them but today, the facilities we have here cannot host them.” He said.
He said apart from camping, the sites also offers great opportunities for hiking, bird watching, wildlife spotting at night and interacting and dancing to the music of the local musicians.
He believes resources the centre will bring life to the area and give the youth and town folk some economic reliefs.
Kulungungu Bomb site
A memorial that stands at this site by way of a statue to depict the bomb attempt to assassinate Ghana's first President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in August 1962 is also in ruins. The memorial, made from cement has the face of the first president removed.
Kulungungu is located eastern corner of Ghana's border with Burkina Faso. In 1962, Dr. Nkrumah en route to Accra from signing an accord with the President of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) for the construction of the hydroelectric project on the Volta, suffered an assignation attempt. A bomb was planted and blasted at a village school, where he made a short stopover. The bomb blast killed a young school child and injured others.
Today, even as September 21, has been declared Founders Day, some community members are advocating that a museum and a library of sort exhibiting relics of Dr. Nkrumah could be built to preserve the memory of the late President.
Naa Gbewaa Shrine, Pusiga
Once a lively tourist haven in the Bawku Municipality, the shrine alongside all receptive facilities and some other structures even look as though they were never used.
In 2004, the then Ministry of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City constructed a 490-million cedi Restoration Centre at the legendary Naa Gbewaa shrine.
The facilities, a reception, a café, a souvenir shop, a bar and toilets, sitting lots, two wall fences, one for immediate protection of the shrine and the other to prevent illegal entry, were all intended to boost the tourism attractions in the area.
But sad to say, my recent visit to the site revealed that the site is in ruins and will need a serious relook to attract domestic and foreign tourists.
Woriyanga Mosques
This town in the Garu-Tempane District hosts an ancient Sudanese architecture mosque akin to the famous Laribanga mosque. The facility has not received that much attention. The mosque although still in use by the local community needs some renovation to prevent it from crumbling.
Ghana Tourism Authority Response.
In an interview with the acting Regional Manager of the GTA, Mr. Hakeem Ishmael, said development activities at tourist attractions in the region are dependent on community input, local workmanship, and communal labour.
He said the lack of investment in the tourism sector in the region by District and Municipal Assemblies was inhibiting the growth of the tourism sector in the region.
He said if assemblies should adopt and pump resources to develop the available sites, GTA will play the lead role in marketing and promoting the sites to both domestic and foreign visitors and thereby contribute to raising funds and helping redress the poverty level of the region
“The attractions are community owned, we believe that if the assemblies can adopt these and invest in them, it will go a long way to open up their districts. Our Municipal and District Assemblies must take ownership of the site and work in collaboration with the people to bring development to the area.” He said.
Alhaji Hakeem noted that proper development of tourist sites has the potential to create jobs for the local people and at the same time open up the development of the area and therefore urged the district assemblies to embrace such initiatives in their localities.
Assembly’s Response
The District Coordinating Director of the Garu-Tempane District Assembly, Alhaji Abdulai Abubakar acknowledged the need for Municipal and District Assemblies to take active interest in developing tourist destinations in their localities developed acknowledged that such a move has a huge potential to helping the attracting tourism and its accompanying rippling socioeconomic effects.
Touching on the Woriyanga Sudanese style mosque which is within his jurisdiction, he promised that assembly will commission further research and properly document the history behind the attractions within his jurisdiction in order to market the area.
He advised the people to take advantage of the development government has initiated to acquire skills in basketry, designing of crafts, smocks and other traditional art so that when the project takes off they would be in the position to do business with the people who would visit the area.
Conclusion
Indeed, the Upper East Region has enormous tourist attractions. If well harnessed, it could help address the poverty situation of the people. It is in this vain that Municipal and District Assemblies must put the development of these attractions their development agenda to harness them for income generation.
-End-
Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
Widnaba Eco-Tourism Site
The stunning natural hilly destinations in the Bawku West District, it is one of the communities in the Red Volta River Valley and a migratory corridor for a small population of Africa Savannah Elephants. One can take a hike to the surrounding hillside accompanied by tour guides. From the apex of the hills, the views are fantastic, and you can see far into Burkina Faso.
In the past Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC), a Ghanaian non-profit, private voluntary organization implementing conservation initiatives to promote a greater awareness and protection of the natural, historic and cultural diversity in Ghana, embarked on an initiative to and market the eco-tourism sites in the region including Widnaba.
He said under the intervention, visitors reception center was constructed, while a guest houses (huts) were also been built at the site. In addition, dustbins, sanitation equipment and directional signs were provided to aid tourists visiting the sites.
Today, the sites are in ruins. The facilities provided have all deteriorated.
A Tour guide, Abdul Karim told the Daily Graphic, that the number of tourists that used to visit the facility have dwindled as a result of deterioration of facilities at the site.
“Some tourists would in the past come over to camp and what nature have in store for them but today, the facilities we have here cannot host them.” He said.
He said apart from camping, the sites also offers great opportunities for hiking, bird watching, wildlife spotting at night and interacting and dancing to the music of the local musicians.
He believes resources the centre will bring life to the area and give the youth and town folk some economic reliefs.
Kulungungu Bomb site
A memorial that stands at this site by way of a statue to depict the bomb attempt to assassinate Ghana's first President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in August 1962 is also in ruins. The memorial, made from cement has the face of the first president removed.
Kulungungu is located eastern corner of Ghana's border with Burkina Faso. In 1962, Dr. Nkrumah en route to Accra from signing an accord with the President of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) for the construction of the hydroelectric project on the Volta, suffered an assignation attempt. A bomb was planted and blasted at a village school, where he made a short stopover. The bomb blast killed a young school child and injured others.
Today, even as September 21, has been declared Founders Day, some community members are advocating that a museum and a library of sort exhibiting relics of Dr. Nkrumah could be built to preserve the memory of the late President.
Naa Gbewaa Shrine, Pusiga
Once a lively tourist haven in the Bawku Municipality, the shrine alongside all receptive facilities and some other structures even look as though they were never used.
In 2004, the then Ministry of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City constructed a 490-million cedi Restoration Centre at the legendary Naa Gbewaa shrine.
The facilities, a reception, a café, a souvenir shop, a bar and toilets, sitting lots, two wall fences, one for immediate protection of the shrine and the other to prevent illegal entry, were all intended to boost the tourism attractions in the area.
But sad to say, my recent visit to the site revealed that the site is in ruins and will need a serious relook to attract domestic and foreign tourists.
Woriyanga Mosques
This town in the Garu-Tempane District hosts an ancient Sudanese architecture mosque akin to the famous Laribanga mosque. The facility has not received that much attention. The mosque although still in use by the local community needs some renovation to prevent it from crumbling.
Ghana Tourism Authority Response.
In an interview with the acting Regional Manager of the GTA, Mr. Hakeem Ishmael, said development activities at tourist attractions in the region are dependent on community input, local workmanship, and communal labour.
He said the lack of investment in the tourism sector in the region by District and Municipal Assemblies was inhibiting the growth of the tourism sector in the region.
He said if assemblies should adopt and pump resources to develop the available sites, GTA will play the lead role in marketing and promoting the sites to both domestic and foreign visitors and thereby contribute to raising funds and helping redress the poverty level of the region
“The attractions are community owned, we believe that if the assemblies can adopt these and invest in them, it will go a long way to open up their districts. Our Municipal and District Assemblies must take ownership of the site and work in collaboration with the people to bring development to the area.” He said.
Alhaji Hakeem noted that proper development of tourist sites has the potential to create jobs for the local people and at the same time open up the development of the area and therefore urged the district assemblies to embrace such initiatives in their localities.
Assembly’s Response
The District Coordinating Director of the Garu-Tempane District Assembly, Alhaji Abdulai Abubakar acknowledged the need for Municipal and District Assemblies to take active interest in developing tourist destinations in their localities developed acknowledged that such a move has a huge potential to helping the attracting tourism and its accompanying rippling socioeconomic effects.
Touching on the Woriyanga Sudanese style mosque which is within his jurisdiction, he promised that assembly will commission further research and properly document the history behind the attractions within his jurisdiction in order to market the area.
He advised the people to take advantage of the development government has initiated to acquire skills in basketry, designing of crafts, smocks and other traditional art so that when the project takes off they would be in the position to do business with the people who would visit the area.
Conclusion
Indeed, the Upper East Region has enormous tourist attractions. If well harnessed, it could help address the poverty situation of the people. It is in this vain that Municipal and District Assemblies must put the development of these attractions their development agenda to harness them for income generation.
-End-
Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
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