The District Chief Executive Officer for the newly created Okere District says plans are far advanced to make Okere district the number one destination for tourist in the Eastern Region and the country as a whole.
According to Daniel Kenneth, the number of natural resources the district has been blessed with if well harnessed will make Okere a one-stop-shop for every tourist.
In an interview with Citi News on the sidelines of a press engagement held in Koforidua to commemorate this year’s World Tourism Celebration Day, the DCE said the assembly is working earnestly to provide jobs for its people through tourism.
“When you are given a district you are supposed to develop the local economy and in doing that you need to know the sort of resources you have and what you can do in adding value to it to benefit the people, create jobs for youth. When you come to my district we have a number of waterfalls which I can count close to 5, we have a forest reserve that is about 24 hectares in the middle of Aberew and Akropong, we also have the Okomfo Anokye history, the Asenema waterfalls, Akaa waterfalls, Abonse slave trade route and market”.
“You realise these are all resources and we know the benefits and ripple effect of tourist promotion and so we have decided that as a district we are going to take these things very seriously and not leave them in the bushes but develop them and make them more friendly for people to be able to come and visit. We are also going to do more of research and history telling so when people come they will go back with some knowledge”.
He added, ” Okere district is endowed with rich resources and we are going to work hard to make it a tourist hub and by so doing we will create jobs for the youth and the local people to change the economic dynamics of the district and we are very happy the regional tourism authority is helping us in this regard”.
He, however, indicated the district will capitalise on the birthplace of Akomfo Anokye which is in the district to help the agenda.
“Okomfo Anokye was born and bred at Awukugwa a town in Okere district and when you get to Awukugwa you will see the birth room of Okomfo Anokye, little wonders and signs that he did and the stories behind them. If you say Anokye it is an Okere word which means Annor look, and his father’s name was also Annor. Even 2 years ago Otumfuor himself came to Awukugwa and visited the birth room of Okomfo Anokye and that should tell you where the man comes from which are facts indicating how blessed Okere is”.