The Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts is re-strategizing to enhance the untapped eco-tourism potentials found within the SADA ecological zone.
This intention, according to SADA’s Director in charge of social development, Dr. Chrys Anab is aimed at using eco-tourism as an investment drive to create enough jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.
Dr. Anab spoke to Citi News on the sidelines at the first SADA zone tourism, culture and creative arts roundtable discussion held in Tamale.
He bemoaned the untapped eco-tourism potential within the savannah ecological zone, hence the paradigm shift to train and build the capacity of stakeholders in that sector.
Dr. Anab reaffirmed SADA’s commitment to use eco-tourism as a game changer in the area of youth employment.
He implored school authorities especially in Northern Ghana to promote domestic tourism by encouraging students’ periodic visits to available touristic sites within their localities.
President of the Ghana Tourism Federation, David Nana Anim lauded SADA’s initiative and called for its sustainability.
He further advocated deeper collaboration between the major stakeholders in the eco-tourism sector.
David Nana Anim gave an overview of GHATOF’s achievements and concluded that much is desired to improve the nation’s eco-tourism sector.
He cited Kenya, Ethiopia and Namibia as countries where government’s there are seriously investing in eco-tourism.
He therefore impressed upon government to invest in the nation’s eco-tourism sector as means of enhancing socio-economic development.
David Nana Anim advocated the need to develop and maintain best standards to uplift the nation’s eco-tourism sector in line with international practices.
Some of the participants among other concerns decried the illegal cutting of trees within the savannah ecological zone for commercial purposes.
They admonished the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to strictly enforce by-laws on environmental conservation.
This in their estimation will augment efforts rolled out to combat climate change.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana