Report: Augustina Brown
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| Mr. Brown, District Manager of the Forest Service Division, Achimota |
Some of the practical measures that would give real meaning to this commitment would include the development of their wildlife Protected Areas and some selected forest reserves possessing the necessary features and attributes into ecotourism hotspots through sound investment decisions.
Again, the project will provide a great opportunity to demonstrate to the political leadership, the business community and the Ghanaian public that eco-tourism is a viable, environmentally-friendly, money-churning venture worthy of investment.
The new name “Accra Eco-park”, which will replace the current name has been deliberately chosen for purposes of name-recognition and easy identification especially for potential international/non-Ghanaian visitors, and that the ‘Accra Eco-park’ project according to the Board of FC will be implemented within the Achimota Forest Reserve.
The Achimota Forest Reserve is situated in a highly strategic location in the City of Accra, both in terms of accessibility and potential for ecotourism. It lies adjacent to the south end of the Achimota School and to the Southwest of the University of Ghana, running parallel to the Accra-Tema motorway extension.
Speaking to the District Manager at the Regional Office of the Forest Service Division, Mr. Felix Brown, he said the Achimota forest reserve has been identified as a reserve with outstanding potential for ecotourism and there are plans to develop it into an ecological theme park to be named the Accra Eco-park.
According to him, the specific objective of the project is to develop the Achimota Eco-Park into a leading destination of choice for eco-tourism experience in the West Africa sub-region.
Benefits of the Project
“The project will include infrastructure of the Accra Eco-Park designed and developed by 2012, Business strategy for Accra Eco-park developed and 1200 jobs generated at the developmental stage of the project and 500 jobs generated when Eco-park is fully operational”, he added.
“The project will include infrastructure of the Accra Eco-Park designed and developed by 2012, Business strategy for Accra Eco-park developed and 1200 jobs generated at the developmental stage of the project and 500 jobs generated when Eco-park is fully operational”, he added.
The District Manager said the successful implementation of the project will serve as a showcase to demonstrate that ecotourism can be employed as a conservation tool that can co-exist in harmony with business motives and goals, without compromising the ecosystem values of the forest.
“The project would on completion add onto the list of flagship ecotourism products that the FC has contributed to the tourism and outdoor recreation industry in Ghana such as the Kakum National Park which is home to the famed Canopy Walkway, the Mole National Park and the Shai Hills Resource Reserve”, he added.
Mr. Brown noted that the park will have to cope with severe encroachment pressures from would-be property developers and “squatters” who are mainly artisans such as mechanics and petty traders plying their business around the park.
“The pressure is most likely going to escalate in the coming years as a result of the fast-increasing value of the area due to on-going commercial developments such as shopping malls, hotels and office buildings”, he said.
Background of Achimota Forest Reserve
The Achimota Forest Reserve was gazetted in July 1930 and the purpose for its establishment was to create a green buffer between the Achimota School and the City of Accra and also to provide cheap fuel for the school kitchen.
Years later the reserve went through changes in terms of its management objectives, from nature reserve through recreation park to nature study facility for children, students and researchers.
The Achimota Forest Reserve was gazetted in July 1930 and the purpose for its establishment was to create a green buffer between the Achimota School and the City of Accra and also to provide cheap fuel for the school kitchen.
Years later the reserve went through changes in terms of its management objectives, from nature reserve through recreation park to nature study facility for children, students and researchers.
The current size of the park is 360 ha, having over the years lost a sizable portion of the original area to various national development projects such as the establishment of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, the construction of the Tema Motorway Extension and the laying of water pipes to serve some communities in the Accra metropolis.
At present, there is an arboretum and a wildlife rescue centre where some animals dislodged from the former Accra Zoo have been placed.
The Achimota Park is heavily patronized by various church groups, with an average annual visitation of 20,000 and gate proceeds of GH¢ 60,000 per annum.
The Achimota Park is heavily patronized by various church groups, with an average annual visitation of 20,000 and gate proceeds of GH¢ 60,000 per annum.
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