Yendi (N/R), June 9, GNA - A five-million Ghana cedis Northern tourism centre, is to be established at Kuga in the Yendi Municipality of the Northern Region, before the end of the year. The centre would comprise a youth development training centre, Information Communication and Technology training centre, art gallery/museum, traditional drumming ground, a guinea fowl farm, farm palace, accommodation facilities, restaurant, swimming pool among other things.

The Manager of the centre, Mr Nathaniel Adams Junior made this known, when he conducted newsmen around the 20- acre project site. Mr Adams Junior said the project in line with the Savannah Development Fund, which sought to develop the three northern regions and the northern part of the Volta Region.

He said the project was aimed at changing public perception that Yendi was hostile to the hospitality industry.

Mr Adams Junior said the centre would be linked to tourist sites like the graves of slave trader, Baba - Ato, Kanbon-Na {Chief warrior}, who was killed during the Dagomba- Germany war at Adibo in 1897 and the Baobab tree with marks of horses of Dagomba warriors at Adibo and other tourist centres in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions. He said the project was sponsoring the Yendi Peace Keep Fit Club, which sought to bring peace to Yendi and Dagbon as a whole. Members of the club include youth groups from the Abudu and Andani royal gates of Dagbon, the political divide and the security agencies. Mr Adams Junior noted that the centre would offer tourists the experience of a complete Northern tradition and culture in order to reverse the image of Yendi as conflict-prone.

The first phase of the project has started with a rest stop, washing bay, barbering shop, food court, hair dressing saloon, where more than 20 people have been employed.