A look at the Tourism sector in the Upper East Region

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Region is well endowed with tourist attractions. There are therefore several potential tourists’ sites/ destinations in the region. Notable among them are the Crocodile Pond at Paga, the Kulungungu bomb site where an assassination attempt was made on Ghana first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah in the 1960’s, the Tongo Hills and the Tensuk Shrine, and the Bolgatanga museum, Other interesting sites are, the Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Basilica of the Catholic Church at Navrongo, the Naa Gbewaa shrine at Pusiga, the Woriyanga Mosque, archeological treasures of river Sissili Basin and the drumming rocks of Pwalugu and Chiana. The culture of the people is projected through the medium of art, music and drama which are displayed during major festivals such as “ Ndaakoya, Samanpiid, and Feok” for the Grunne, Kusasi, Kassena and Builsa respectively. Despite these huge potential, the region lacks the necessary infrastructure to attract tourists. To develop this sector therefore, there is the need to improve the necessary infrastructure and ancillary services to support the industry. These 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. Some of the attractive site identified by this reporter that will require the Widnaba Eco-Tourism Site. The stunning scenic 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, in the past, he used to earn some good money as a result of the influx of tourist who flock the area to have that magical experience. “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 natures 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. There is also the Kulungungu Bomb site. This is where the first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Survived a grenade attack on 1st August, 1962 when returning from then Upper Volta, now Burkina Faso. Over the years, the statue planted at a section of the town as a memorial has deteriorated. Recently, as a result of a road construction works, the statue have had to be removed to pave way for the construction. This action, a section of the resident believes will deprived the town it's place in history and called for something concrete to be done to immortalise the memory of the first president of Ghana in the town. Isaiah Abass, a resident said even as September 21, has been declared Founders Day, the country should be able to construct a museum and a library of sort exhibiting relics of Dr. Nkrumah could be built to preserve the memory of the late President. One can also mentioned the Naa Gbewaa Shrine located in 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 center, 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. Next is the Woriyanga Mosque, in the Garu-Tempane District. This Woriyanga community hosts an ancient Sudanese architecture mosque akin to the famous Laribanga mosque. Sad to say this facility has not received that much attention even though its wields the potential of being good tourist site. The mosque although still in use by the local community needs some renovation to prevent it from crumbling and losing that antique touch Ghana Tourism Authority Response. In an interview with the acting Upper Regional Manager of the GTA, Alhaji Hakeem Ishmael, said development activities at tourist attractions in the region are dependent on community input, local workmanship, and communal labour. He noted that said the lack of investment in the tourism sector in the region by District and Municipal Assemblies was affecting the growth of the tourism sector in the region. He said if only assemblies would adopt and pump resources to develop the available tourist sites, the district assemblies in the region could rake higher internal revenue to support their development programmers. He said the GTA is ready to partner the local assemblies by 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. As noted by the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Daniel Syme at an investment promotion campaign in Bolgatanga, recently to sensitize entrepreneurs, heads of departments, Municipal and District Coordinating Directors, Municipal and District Chief Executives in the region on development strategies and how to harness the potentials available, the existence of many potentials including the crafts including straw baskets, leather and smock weaving industries, the tourist sites such as the Paga Crocodile pond, Pikworo Slave Camp, Tongo Hills and Tensuk Shrine as some of the potentials the region should be enough catalyst potential investors to take advantage of these avenues to invest in the region. That way they will be contributing to reducing the high level of poverty and hardship among the people of the region. Also Municipal and District Chief Executives in whose jurisdiction sites falls, must make it a point to give priority attention to the development of the tourist sites in the region in order to rake in the benefits. -End- Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh / glovben@yahoo.com Fact File The Upper East region is located in the north-eastern corner of Ghana and bordered byBurkina Faso to the north and Togo to the east. It lies between longitude 00 and 10 West, and latitudes 100 30”N and 110N. The region shares boundaries with Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, Upper West Region to the west, and the Northern Region to the south. The region is divided into 13 districts, each headed by a chief executive. Like the other parts of northern Ghana, the people of the Upper East Region are predominantly peasant farmers. Much of the farming is done in the short rainy season with the long dry season as a period of preparation towards farming in the wet season. Around Bolgatanga, the regional capital and surrounding areas, baskets, straw hats, straw bags, smocks, and other leather materials constitute a major source of income for a significant number of people in these areas. Blacksmithing is also another activity in many areas of the region. Much of the blacksmithing is the traditional type. They produce hoes, axes, ploughs, donkey carts, beds, etc for sale. Lack of capital to purchase equipment has been a major problem in this business. Notable festivals are the Feok for the Builsas, Fao for the Kassenas, Bugum for the Kusasi and Mamprusi and Samanpiid for the Kusasi. These are colourful festivals and their celebrations attract a lot of visitors. The festivals are also used by the people to solicit government support for development. In the Upper East Region, poverty is endemic. Almost 9 out of 10 citizens in the region are poor. In many areas of the Upper East Region, especially the rural areas, the situation of the poorest has worsened and inequality has increased. The poverty in the region can be described as rural, and it is associated with landlessness mainly due to population pressure, irregular source of incomes, lack of access to facilities and amenities. “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.” Alhaji Hakeem Ishmael, acting Upper Regional Manager of the GTA.