Use sanitation exercise to boost Elmina’s status as tourism destination
Vice-President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has asked the chiefs and people of Elmina in the Central Region to actively participate in the national sanitation day exercise to preserve the area as a tourist attraction.
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He stressed that as one of the leading tourism destinations in the country attracting tourists from across the globe, Elmina and its people had the responsibility to protect their image by actively participating in the monthly clean-up exercise.
The government has set aside the first Saturday of every month for the public to clean their communities.
Mr Amissah-Arthur made the call when he addressed a grand durbar of the chiefs and people of Elmina to climax the Edina Bakatue Festival last Saturday.
It was on the theme: “Time to promote Ghana’s trade potential is now… Patronise Ghana made… Be a proud Ghanaian”.
Significance of Bakatue
Literally translated "The opening of the lagoon" or “The draining of the lagoon", the festival is celebrated to commemorate the founding of Elmina by the Europeans.
It is also celebrated to invoke the deity, Nana Benya, to continue to protect the state.
Mr Amissah-Arthur reiterated the government’s commitment to improve the lives of the fisher folk and said in line with that, it had distributed some outboard motors to fishermen at subsidised prices.
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Additionally, he said, work on a 100-metric tonne fish processing factory for the people of Elmina was ongoing.
Furthermore, the government would increase pre-mix fuel supply to meet the demands of fishermen, he added.
He encouraged the people to endeavour to enrol in the Atta Mills Fisheries College at Anomabo to improve their knowledge and skills in the profession.
Peaceful elections
Turning his focus on the need to uphold the peace ahead of the forthcoming general election, the Vice-President said politics was not a ‘do-or-die’ affair, for which reason he reiterated his call on politicians to conduct their campaigns devoid of rancour and bitterness.
He also advised against the use of intemperate language during the electioneering, noting that “Ghana, apart from the 2016 elections, will continue to hold elections every four years”.
Omanhene
Earlier in his welcome address, the Omanhen of the Edina Traditional Area, Nana Kodwo Condua VI, had described this year’s festival as memorable, in view of the involvement of the entire community in its planning and participation.
He expressed appreciation to the government for the development projects that had been undertaken in the area, including the recently inaugurated Komenda Sugar Factory and the construction of a bridge to link the St George’s Castle to Elmina.
On education, he pleaded with the government to provide a new dormitory block for the Edinaman Senior High School to cater for the high number of residential students, and a bus to address the transportation needs of the school.
On the 2016 general election, Nana Condua added his voice to calls to politicians to conduct issues-based campaigns and do away with personality attacks.
Writer’s email: sebastian.syme@graphic.com.gh