Veep Reopens Kintampo Waterfalls

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, joined by other government officials has reopened the Kintampo Waterfalls.

He said that tourism was a very important industry in the country, and the Kintampo waterfalls was one of the very important natural attractions of great benefit to the country.

He therefore called on stakeholders in the industry to harness all their energies and resources towards its development for the benefit of all.

The Kintampo Waterfalls was closed to the public on 19th of March, 2017, after a freak accident that led to the death about 18 people, mostly students who were on an excursion.

Most of the students were from the Wenchi Methodist Senior High.

A government delegation led by Dr. Bawumia later visited the place, and the site was subsequently closed to the public.

But months after, the Vice President, who visited the place to reopen the refurbished site, tasked Ghanaians and managers of the facility to exhibit good maintenance and accountability culture, as a way of demonstrating appreciation to God for the gift of the waterfalls.

“We should really dedicate ourselves to looking after the waterfalls, and this is why it is so important the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is going to be signed today by the Chiefs, the Municipal Assembly and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, will specify and demonstrate that all of us share the responsibility for looking after this precious gift from God”, he emphasized.

He commended the chiefs, residents, the municipal assembly, and all the stakeholders in the area for their collaboration towards the development of the area, and urged them to continue to live in harmony as government will continue to support them.

The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Abelema Afeku, in her address said the reopening of the facility was a demonstration of government’s commitment towards the welfare and safety of residents and visitors to all tourist sites  across the country.

She disclosed that, an estimated 30,000 tourists visit the waterfalls annually, and hoped the refurbished facility will generate more revenue for the development of the area.

She appealed to the stakeholders and managers of the facility to be dedicated and committed to the terms and agreements in the MOU, to ensure more employment opportunities are created for the teeming youth in the municipality.

She commended the government, chiefs, the municipal assembly, residents and the 48-regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for their various roles in the success of the project.

The Kyeremankomahene of Kintampo, and also Kronkorhene of Nkoranza Traditional area, Nana Effa Guakro IV, on behalf of the traditional council commended government for fulfilling it’s promise that was given during the disaster.

He appealed to the government to support the Assembly to improve upon the areas of security, as well as construct roads in the area to facilitate transportation of goods and services from the hinterlands.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyeman, commended Ghanaians and chiefs of the area for their collaboration and support to the GTA since March 2017, when the disaster occurred, and pledged his outfit’s commitment to the professional management of the facility and high safety standards.

Source: Citifmonline