Local ownership of tourism industry will be top priority — CPP presidential candidate

The flag bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Nana Akosua Frimponmaa Sarpong-Kumankumah, has said tourism development in the Volta Region will be among her priorities when given the nod.

She said the development and management of the sector would be based on local or homegrown ownership.

During her two-day door-to-door campaign in Kpando, Ho, Mepe and Battor in the Volta Region, which ended last Tuesday, she said local ownership of the tourism industry held the key to greater job opportunities for the youth and wealth creation for indigenes.

She cited Amedzofe in the Ho West District, with its captivating landscape, dense forests, waterfalls and splendid weather, which were assets to tap for massive prosperity.

“The judicious development of tourism in the area would curb the trend of migration of young people in the area to the cities, as they would earn a decent living from the sector,” Nana Sarpong-Kumankumah said.
                           

Food processing

She said food processing industries would be set up to treat and preserve the abundant harvests of farm produce in the region.

“In that area also, we will vigorously encourage local ownership of the industries,” she added.

Nana Sarpong-Kumankumah explained the development agenda of the CPP placed greater emphasis on the foreign partnership with local industry operators, rather than foreign ownership.

“It is not proper for foreigners to take over our land and all our natural resources and then employ locals for unfair wages,” she added.

She gave an assurance that a reliable fund would be established to assist local business initiatives to benefit households and communities.

“We do not expect hairdressers to import synthetic hair from outside when we can set up industries to produce it here,” she maintained.

At Battor, the CPP presidential candidate called for a “functional” social welfare service to support the vulnerable in society.