Kintampo (B/A) Aug. 25, GNA - A one-day stakeholders conference on Kintampo Waterfall land use plan was held at Kintampo in Brong-Ahafo on Wednesday. The workshop, attended by about 50 participants comprising traditional rulers, Assembly Members, heads of department, media and other stakeholders in Kintampo North district was part of activities of the Ministry of Tourism and Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) to sensitise stakeholders and communities on tourism development.

Participants discussed the draft land use plan prepared by Kumasi-based IFM Environment and Development Consultancy (IFMED) Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, GTB, Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) and other donor agencies.

Mr. Martin Mireku, Acting Executive Director of GTB said the workshop was to discuss how the public and private sectors could collaborate to develop, promote and market tourist sites or centres for the benefit of communities.

He noted that tourism was a form of business providing for the travelling, accommodation, catering, entertainment needs and expectations of the tourist or traveller. "Kintampo as the geographical central point of Ghana has been in the tourism business long before attempts were made to organise it by way of institutions and legislation.

"It is the plan of the Government to move tourism in Kintampo to a higher level", Mr. Mireku added, saying the plan would take the form of level planning, organization, good management and promotion.

Mr. Mireku said participants would engage in a thorough debate, discussion or deliberation on a master plan that would guide the development, management and promotion of the waterfall on a sustainable basis. He announced that the Ministry and GTB had terminated the appointment of the contractor charged to construct a receptive structure at the Waterfall and for unduly delaying the project. It has been given it to a new contractor.

In a welcoming address, Mr. Awudulai Razak, District Chief Executive for Kintampo North commended the government for taking the decision to promote the Kintampo Waterfall to a higher level to enhance the image of the town and the welfare of the people. Kintampo is also on record as the first town in Ghana to have a military barracks, European cemetery and the Kuunsu Slave Market, he said and called on the Ministry to consider the development of all other tourism sites in the town. Mr. Larry Atippoe, a representative of Netherlands Development Organisation said the organization would, as a developmental partner, continue to assist in helping the people to lift themselves out of poverty.

Dr. Isaac Frimpong Mensa-Bonsu, leader of the Consultancy briefed participants on the land use plan of the Water Fall, depicting road, stream, footpath, forest, teak plantation, camping site and vehicle park.

Others are children's play ground, chop bar and craft shop, citrus farm and flower farm, concrete barriers and seats, donkey stable, entertainment, office, internet and toilet facilities, guest house, hotel and food joint, reserved public open space, windmill, rearing spots and a suspended foot bridge.

Mr. F.O. Boateng, Regional Co-Ordinating Director who deputized for the Regional Minister, Nana Kwadwo Seinti, asked the participants to take the workshop seriously to be able to arrive at a concrete decision on the plan and its implementation.

Earlier, Mr. Gordon Kyeremeh, staff of the District Assembly in-charge of tourism conducted officials and participants round the three segments of the Waterfall project. Participants expressed great attracted at the third or main segment of the Fall where tourists shower and slide to entertain themselves.