Business News of Wednesday, 25 June 2003

Source: gna

Canadian investors to establish Spa Centre at Aflao

A group of Canadian investors is considering building a $15m Health Tourism Centre at Aflao, Togbe Dunenyo Midadje, a Senior Divisional Chief of the area, said on Monday.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency Togbe Midadje explained that Spa, which means "health by water" and health resource system was a multi-tourism programme catching on well in Europe, US, Canada, Japan and China.

He said with a highly stressful and competitive work environment Europeans had started to appreciate the value of alternative methods of promoting good health and "optimum personal rejuvenation."

''Spa and Health resorts are becoming sanctuaries where people visit to rejuvenate themselves and it is very important Ghana takes advantage of the new industry.'' Togbe Midadje, who is resident in Canada, said the resort would comprise a 200-room hotel, a 200-room retirement home, a health centre, rehabilitation centre and a natural remedy unit.

Other facilities to be provided include pharmaceutical production and distribution units, a research and development centre and an education and manpower-training unit that would be put at the disposal of educational institutions.

Togbe Midadje and Dr Joseph Levy, a York University Professor and Consultant on International Spa Resource Centres are facilitating the project. He said the project would occupy between 20 hectares and 40 hectares and the Traditional Council had earmarked two sites to be considered by the investors.

He said Togbe Amenya Fiti, V, the Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, would visit Canada in August to discuss modalities with the investors.