Second monkey sanctuary in Brong Ahafo

Duasidan (B/A), Dec. 10, GNA- Mr Francis Tapena, Acting Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Ghana Tourist Board has appealed to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to help develop tourism by identifying attractive sites.

He expressed his concern about the deplorable state of road networks linking to tourist communities in some parts of the country. Mr Tapena made the appeal at the launch of the Duasidan Monkey Sanctuary at Duasidan, a farming community in the Dormaa district of the region. The sanctuary is the second in the region, after the famous Buabeng-Fiema.

The launch was under the theme, "promoting community eco-tourism as a means of wealth creation".

Mr Tapena said tourism plays a very crucial role in national development and as such needed a vibrant and sustainable development strategy.

He urged the people of Duasidan and environs to play their respective roles to enhance eco-tourism in the area. Nana Oppong Kyekyeku Ababio, Chief of Duasidan, said the sanctuary, which was discovered about 120 years ago contained more than 1000 monkeys, made up of three different species.

He said the animals were regarded as "holy" and people were prohibited from either killing or harming them.

The chief appealed to the government and NGOs to help develop the sanctuary to boost eco-tourism and to create jobs for the youth. Mr Emmanuel Abugbila, Executive Director of Green Shepherd Ghana, an NGO assisting the community to develop the sanctuary, said the NGO was working in 12 other communities to promote eco-tourism in the region.

He said the NGO has assisted the youth in beneficiary communities to engage in snail and mushroom production, bee keeping and grass cutter rearing.

Mr Abugbila said this help swayed the youth from entering the reserved tourist sites for game.