The Shai state in the Greater Accra region is to benefit from a Ministry of Tourism “lion project” which is targeted at bringing in tourists to have a real experience with lions living in their natural habitat.
At a consultative meeting in Dodowa the Minister for Tourism, Mrs. Sabah Zita Okaikoi assured the Chiefs and people that government would ensure their share of revenue to be accrued from the project and any other Tourism project to be brought in that area.
The “lion project” is an initiative being adopted by the Ministry of Tourism because of its potential to attract more tourists, create employment and open up the Shai area for infrastructural development.
The project if implemented would make it possible for both local and foreign tourists to experience lions in their natural habitats.
The new Minister in her opening remarks said that although she just took office, she deemed it necessary to be part of the first consultative meeting because of the enormous benefit the project would bring to the people of Shai and Ghanaian in general.
“I promise on behalf of government that in all our deliberations you all seated here would be consulted to ensure that the program is successful “she said.
Elaborating on the project, the Deputy Sector Minister, Mr. Kwabena Acheampong indicated that the project is a major tourist activity for countries in Botswana, Zambia and most Southern African Countries.
These countries according to him raise millions of dollars as revenue out of the idea that tourists have a closer experience with lions in their natural habitats.
Mr. Acheampong indicated that the Shai Hills was chosen because of its land aptness, proximity to the capital city and its good road infrastructure.
He indicated that the project also involves research facilities that would benefit the local people who are interested in educating themselves.
He said that the execution of the project would not affect the environmental conditions in the area since the there would not be any destruction of the forests but rather the lions would be confined to their natural environment where tourist would have a firsthand experience with them.
The Deputy Minister further said the project would bring about a lot of employment opportunities and assured the Chiefs and opinion leaders that the indigenes would be first considered in the area of employment if the project takes off.
“This project would go a long way in solving the unemployment situation within the Shai state because there would be a lot of jobs to be created from the project,” he added.
According to him the project would open up the entire Shai state and its environs to a lot of tourists daily and the youth would be given the opportunity to serve as tourist guides.
He urged the Chiefs and opinion leaders to ensure that they seek the interest of their people by even if possible buying shares in the project so that they would also become shareholders and have the same leverage as the investors.
The Chief of Dodowa, Nene Appenkon III who spoke on behalf of his colleagues expressed the gratitude of the people to the Ministry for such an initiative which would help solve the unemployment situation in the area and also open up the place for tourism.
He pledged the support of his colleagues and all the people of the Shai state to the project and hoped the Ministry would include them in all deliberations till the project becomes a reality.