Pusiga (U/E), Feb. 24, GNA - The Deputy Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Sadiq, at the weekend inspected the construction of a 490-million cedi Restoration Centre at the legendary Na Gbewaa shrine at Pusiga near Bawku in the Upper East Region.

The facility is to boost the tourism attractions in the area, and when complete would have a reception, a caf=E9, a souvenir shop, a bar and five toilets, one of which would be designed for People With Disabilities (PWDs).

Other components of the project include, sitting lots, two wall fences, one for immediate protection of the shrine and the other to prevent illegal entry.

Briefing newsmen after the inspection, the Deputy Minister said government recognises the important role tourism plays in the national economy and would do everything in its capacity to develop most of the attractions in its bid to broaden the sector and attract more foreign exchange to boost the economy.

He said the project is funded with proceeds from the HIPC initiative and would be completed in April this year, adding that the District Assembly would contribute to the project by extending electricity, creating access routes and the provision of water at the facility.

Alhaji Sadiq noted that proper development of tourist sites has the potential to create jobs for the local people and at the same time open up the development of the area and said the contractor on the project, Abdul-Rahaman Construction Limited, had been directed to engage all his labour from the locality.

He explained that government's deep involvement in the phase-lift does not imply that it is taking ownership of the site from the people but that it is collaborating with the people, and the Municipal Assembly to bring development to the area.

He advised the people to take advantage of the development government has initiated to acquire skills in basketry, designing of crafts, smocks and other traditional art so that when the project takes off they would be in the position to do business with the people who would visit the area.

The Deputy Minister called on the people to be tolerant of one another during the forthcoming elections and during the electioneering campaigns to maintain the peace and stability of the area. The Regional Manager of Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), Madam Mary Agangmikre, called on the people to keep their environment clean in order to attract more tourists to the area, adding that without a well kept environment tourists would not like to patronise the new facility.

The Deputy Minister was accompanied by the Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Ministry, Mr. Joel Sonne, and Madam Rejoyce Enyonam Doe, a Senior Tourism Officer at the Ministry.