…as it marks World Tourism Day 2018
The Tema Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority has touted the tourism potentials of Tema as one of the best in the West Africa sub-region.
Speaking at this year’s Regional World Tourism Day celebration at Tema Newtown, Tema Regional Manager of the GTA, Mr. Charles Buabin explained that the Ghana Tourism Authority is in the process of adding value to tourism resources in the region.
As part of the event, 200 trees were planted as a sustainability drive to promote a climate resilient environment.
Potentials
He mentioned the Newtown fishing habour, as one project which the authority seeks to tackle, with regard to good sanitation maintenance.
“The Newtown fishing habour is not just a beach. It’s the major landing beach for the local fisher folks; if we can beautify this area and get rid of the regular plastic wastes and all the unsanitary activities going on here, the habour area can definitely be a tourism haven,” Mr. Buabin said.
He said communities within the Tema Newtown beachfront, currently have one public toilet facility serving about 3000 people, adding, “going forward the GTA will consider the situation and deal with it in collaboration with corporate entities at the Tema area.”
Another project Mr. Buabin disclosed as part of the Tema Region’s five-year development plan, is the intended fishing museum project which will be cited in the Tema Newtown fishing community as a tourist attraction.
“That museum will have items including ancient canoes, fishing nets and other tools which were used in fishing many years ago, by fishermen from the community. We don’t want tourists to visit the community without having a feel of what it is known for” he added.
The development of the Greenwich meridian line, the GTA Regional Manager explained, is already under consideration by the authority, and that, when fully developed with specific monuments, will enhance the line’s touristic values coupled with the beachfront of the Gulf of Guinea.
Mr. Buabin touted the Shai Hills Nature Reserve as one of the rarest nature conservation areas in the world which serve as habitat for baboons, monkeys, vipers, bats, duikers among others.
“Other activities that we hope to integrate into the plan are receptive and recreational facilities for visitors and tourists” he said.
Challenges to tourism development in the area
He however said, activities such as open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse remain a major attitudinal challenge which must be dealt with.
An assembly member of the Sealight Electoral Area at Tema Newtown, Joseph Ofori, blamed Zoomlion for inefficiently managing waste materials in the area
National and global celebration
The 2018 World Tourism Day Celebration in Ghana, will be held at Kwahu Abetifi on September 27, 2018, to coincide with the durbar of chiefs, cycling, paragliding and other activities.
At the international level, the event this year, will take place at Budapest in Hungary.
By Wisdom Jonny-Nuekpe