The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has urged the government and other private individuals to venture into ecotourism rather than investing in mining the country’s natural resources.
The overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council says the country stands to gain more if it engaged in long term ventures such as the preservation of natural resources and forests rather than mining bauxite and other minerals.
The outspoken environmentalist made this call while inaugurating a five-member management board put together by the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Abuakwa Traditional Council to ensure a facelift of the Bunso Arboretum into a world-class Ecotourism site.
“We are going to protect the forests and our nature for future generations,” the Okyenhene stressed.
He also highlighted the importance of selfless leaders in this regard.
“It takes generational leaders to feel that way. It takes men and women who are not looking out for their personal gains but public good…It takes people who rise up above their individual concerns and embrace the concerns of the community.”
In his remarks, he also highlighted the general absence of parks in residential spaces.
“It is about time we made our country attractive. We don’t have any project of reactional place for our kids so this is a major one and we all have to support it.”
His remarks come as concerns have been raised about government’s moves to mine bauxite in the Atewa Forest Reserve.
The forest serves as a source of water for over 5 million Ghanaians and activists believe even responsible mining will have lasting negative effects on the reserve.
As an alternative, a group comprising the Council of Ghanaian Chiefs in the Netherlands, members of the Okyenman Foundation Netherlands and a section of the Ghanaian Community in the Netherlands appealed to the President to consider making the Atewa forest a national park instead of mining bauxite.
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By: Nii Amatey Kanarku | citinewsroom.com | Ghana