Zaina Lodge at Mole park to open in September

Construction works on the Zaina Lodge at the Mole National Park in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region is 90 per cent complete.

The facility, to be opened in September, would help to attract tourists from the West African sub-region.

It offers a unique opportunity for tourists to encounter elephants and other big game on foot and up close.

The lodge offers two styles of Safari-driving and walking, and seeks to open a new chapter in the hospitality industry by promoting community and economic development and environmental conservation.

The 25-room lodge is being constructed in two phases, 17 of the planned 25 luxury tented suites would open this year, along with a central dining facility, bar and infinity swimming pool.

Mr Andrew Murphy, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ecolodge Mole Operating Company Ghana Limited, operators of the Lodge told Ghana News Agency that the facility has provided job for more than 150 people in the community.

He said the suites were arranged to capture spectacular views over the woodland savannah of the park, the largest of Ghana’s seven national parks.

He said all the materials used in the construction process were locally sourced to depict the tradition and culture of the people to promote domestic tourism.

The CEO said Zaina lodge offers unparalleled service and luxury accommodation in an exclusive location in the Mole National Park and community wildlife destination.

"We will partner closely with the community and government to provide quality service to tourists who patronise the Mole Park," he added.

He said sustainability is a key focus of Zaina Lodge and it seeks to continuously reduce the environmental impact of its operations, using monitoring and evaluation to create an ever more efficient company.

"Zaina Lodge primarily seeks to create a more sustainable operation through production of solar energy, waste management, local procurement strategies and having positive impact on wildlife populations in the park,” he added.

He said management would be installing all the kitchen and laundry equipment in a few weeks, and has started staff training.

Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts commended management of the facility for their hard work to improve on the tourist attraction sites in the area.

She expressed the hope that when the facility is opened to the public management would ensure quality service delivery to their numerous clientele.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare is on a week familisation tour to tourist sites in the region to see at first hand the tourism situation in the Northern Region and how to harness those potentials for national development.