The Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) marked this year’s Ghana Independence Day celebrations with a community outreach programme at the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary in the Volta Region, combining tourism promotion with social impact.

The initiative, held on March 6, saw members of the Union travel to the sanctuary where they donated exercise books and pens to pupils in the Tafi Atome community. The outreach also included a free health screening for elderly residents, underscoring the Union’s commitment to supporting communities that host tourists.

As part of the day’s activities, the Union also sponsored a group of school pupils to visit the sanctuary. For many of the children, it was their first close encounter with the famous Mona monkeys that inhabit the site, despite living within the same region.

Speaking during the outreach programme, TOUGHA President Yvonne Donkor explained that the initiative was designed to expose young people in the community to the tourism asset in their midst and encourage a deeper appreciation of it.

“It is important for us to embark on outreach programmes like this so that the children can appreciate and learn more about the sanctuary and the monkeys they protect. We believe this will help pique their interest in tourism and the value of conservation,” she said.

She added that the donation of educational materials and the health screening formed part of the Union’s broader responsibility to support communities that contribute to Ghana’s tourism industry.

“These are communities that welcome visitors and guests from around the world, so it is only right that we also give back in meaningful ways,” she noted.

Chiefs and elders of the Tafi Atome community expressed their gratitude to the Union for the gesture and commended the initiative as a positive example of tourism supporting local development.

They also used the opportunity to highlight the need for increased investment in the area, particularly in eco-friendly accommodation facilities around the sanctuary. According to them, such investments would help attract tourists who wish to stay longer and experience the community more fully.

Community leaders emphasised that upgrading tourism facilities and developing sustainable lodging options would complement existing economic activities and further enhance the sanctuary’s role as a key tourism attraction in the region.