Wechiau (UW), Feb 27, GNA - Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the Minister for Tourism and the Modernization of the Capital City, at the weekend appealed to custodians of the Wechiau Hippopotamus Sanctuary to establish a stronger relationship with their Burkinaabe counterparts to protect the animals in the area.

"It is very important to strengthen your ties with them because if they decide to continue killing the animals it will have negative impact on your sanctuary here".

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey made this appeal when he paid a courtesy call on the Wechiau Naa as part of his two-day visit to the Upper West Region. He said the sanctuary was a national asset that should be safeguarded to blossom into a major foreign currency earner and any attempt to sabotage its growth would deny the country resources. The Minister expressed dissatisfaction at the rampant fire outbreaks around the sanctuary and urged the people to see the place as their goldmine that could enrich them and said the government would make funds available for the construction of fire belts.

Mr Daniel Dari Kuunsugno, the District Chief Executive for Wa West, promised to hold consultative meetings that would come out with ideas to improve on the site to attract more tourists to the sanctuary.