A proposal has been made for a joint venture company to develop the Aburi Botanical Gardens to promote both domestic and international tourism. The joint venture should aim at adding value to the existing facilities of the Gardens and to increase tourist visitation.

The Ministry of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, Ghana Tourist Development Company and the Department of Parks and Gardens should form the venture.

Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, said this in Parliament on Wednesday when Seth Dankwa Wiafe, NPP-Akwapim South, asked what steps the Ministry was taking to attract more tourist to the Aburi Botanical Gardens and Papa Ye Village at Kokundru, near Aburi.

The Minister said the joint venture would develop a new conference project into a 500 capacity multi-hall complex and convention centre, expand and upgrade the current accommodation units into a three-star status with outdoor recreational facilities.

The project also includes designing and building an environmentally compatible African Village restaurant, a grill hut and fruit garden, cocktail bazaar and a multi-level high capacity toll car parking facility.

Obetsebi-Lamptey said the Gardens was currently being managed by the Department of Parks and Gardens, however the Ministry had identified it as a prime eco-tourism resource along the Akwapim tourism circuit.

He said the Ministry was, therefore, promoting the site for both domestic and international tourism through its brochures and also encouraged tour operators to promote all attractions in the Akwapim circuit including the Papa Ye Village at Kokundru.