The Ministry of Toursim on Tuesday said it was taking measures to make Ghana the number one tourism destination in West Africa by rejuvenating its ecological structures.

Nana Akomea, Deputy Minister of Tourism said, "Ghana's forest was a thing of beauty in the past, yet we are gradually losing all this beauty to those who are fast depleting the forest and its resources".

He said the ministry would, therefore, invest about three billion cedis to build 13 ecotourism receptive sites all over the country as a way of boasting the tourism sector this year.

Nana Akomea, who was launching Eco-Fest 2002, an ecological festival in Accra said eco-tourism was currently the fastest growing aspect of tourism in the whole world.

He said the measures have become necessary because some very important tourist sites have no receptive centres for tourist to rest, have lunch or even visit the washroom.

Nana Akomea said the establishment of the receptive centres was also a way of inviting private sector participation in those areas.

He congratulated all the non-governmental organisations such as Conservation International and Wildlife Society for their efforts in conservation programmes in the various communities and urged the civil society to join hands in the replanting and reforestation programmes being carried out all over the country.

Mr Joseph Nyarko, Chairman of the Foundation, said the rationale for launching ECO-Fest was to promote nature, tourism and the conservation of 'our natural treasures'.

"These treasures have become great tourist attractions that are earning the country foreign exchange, generating incomes and revenues, with the potential to reduce rural poverty," he said.