Amedzofe tourism industry gets governing council

An 11-member governing council has been inaugurated to see to the development of the Amedzofe tourism industry to ensure its potentials are properly harnessed for the good of the area.

The newly inaugurated council is expected to develop policies and ensure that the tourism resources at Amedzofe are properly developed to world class standards.

Amedzofe is unique with several ecotourism features. It is the highest human habitation in West Africa with a unique weather pattern.

It is also home to Mount Gemi, measuring about 2,224 feet above sea level, which also serves as a spot for hiking and boasts a waterfall which would soon be home to a canopy walkway.

The Chairman of the Amedzofe Development Association, Mr MacDonald Bubuama, speaking on behalf of the Amedzofe Traditional Authority said tourism had become an economic base worldwide, and one of the potential sources of income for the development of various communities in countries and communities with tourism potentials.

Mr Bubuama said one of the surest ways to improve tourism in the area was through fixing deplorable roads within the community.

He, therefore, appealed to the government to pay attention to the development of the town to further attract and drive tourists to the area.

Domestic tourism

Delivering a statement on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr Akwasi Agyeman, the Volta Regional Director of GTA, Mr Alexander Nketia, implored stakeholders of the tourism sector to map out innovative strategies targeted at improving gains in the domestic tourism sector.

Mr Agyeman said hurdles brought on by the dwindling numbers of international tourists due to the COVID-19 pandemic might adversely affect the sector if attention was not shifted to the potentials held by domestic tourists.

He said while efforts were being made to improve tourist experience in the country, domestic tourism would be a capable bridge to the widening gap left by international tourists.

"We now have to concentrate on our people to visit us," he added.

Dwindling tourists

The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a huge blow to the industry the world over with travel restrictions which translated into drastic reductions in visitations to tourist sites.

Meanwhile, in 2019 alone, about 600,000 domestic tourists were recorded around the country. There was, however, a downturn of 200,000 domestic tourists recorded in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Mr Agyeman stressed the need for domestic tourism to thrive, and therefore, he tasked the governing council to strategise and position itself to make the goal materialise.

He reiterated the authority's eagerness to collaborate with other endowed communities that were also keen on developing their tourist sites.

He said the community stood a greater chance of reaping the benefits that were equally accruing to any other well placed tourist centre in the world.

Challenges

Mr Agyeman, however, identified the unavailability of decent tourist information centres or restrooms at most tourist sites as a nagging challenge which continued to bedevil the prospects of the sector. 

He said per the request and expected collaboration from community members at Amedzofe, the authority would lead the charge in setting up the facility, which would serve as a receiving spot for tourists.

He noted that the newest development was already garnering waves with eager potential tourists ready to explore. The yet to be commissioned tourism facility is expected to pull in huge tourist numbers to the town.

The GTA has already completed the establishment of a similar structure at the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary in the Afadjato South District.