Redevelopment and attention on the Atewa Forest will give Ghana the chance of generating revenue annually.
This report was revealed by Green Development Strategy and Action Plan on Atewa Landscape, which was developed by Tropenbos Ghana, an environmentally-focused organization, in collaboration with the European Union (EU) Delegation to Ghana.
According to Green Development Strategy and Action Plan report on the Atewa Landscape, ecotourism is a vital substitute to bauxite mining in the Atewa landscape, which could increase government’s annual tax revenue receipts by US$154 million.
Not limited to that, the report also identified two other green development pathways including landscape emission reduction and forest botanical harvest for export, that are also sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternatives to bauxite mining in the Atewa Forest Region.
The report revealed that, conversion of Atewa Forest into an ecotourists site would lead to the creation of an estimated 5,500 direct jobs, 23,000 indirect jobs, 460 services, growth of the gross domestic products (GDP) as well as foreign exchange earnings to the country.
Dr. Daniel Kofi Abu, Project Manager of Tropenbos Ghana, discussing the Strategy and Action Plan during a validation workshop in Accra, said, “it will be sustainable the forest was transformed into a national park as a hub of green and circular socioeconomic activities, as this will provide jobs and incomes for communities in the area while protecting its biodiversity.”
“The park, could be enhanced by the construction of unique tourism infrastructures and services in and around the forest to attract green development projects, and to make it a climate-smart and sustainable landscape.
“The Atewa ecotourism project could be modeled on the Central Region Tourism Development Project, undertaken in partnership with private sector incentives and government investments, leading to attractions such as the Kakum National Park.”
Dr. Daniel Kofi Abu
Government Must Abolish Plans For Bauxite Mining In The Atewa Forest
Dr. Daniel Kofi Abu disclosed that, green pathway development roadmap for Atewa could assist in job creation, revenue generation for socio- economic development as compared to the option of bauxite mining.
Redeveloping the Atewa Forest will also deliver significant benefits such as securing long-term water supply for residents of the Greater Accra Region, he added.
Dr Abu therefore urged the government in taking a critical step to terminate all plans for bauxite mining on the Atewa forest and gazette the site as a national park.
“The ecotourism project, which would be a long term, should be private sector-led development with government creating the enabling environment through business incentives and loan guarantees to leverage finance.
“Developing the Atewa forest into an ecotourism site would ensure government generates more revenue while protecting the environment and improving livelihoods.”
Dr. Daniel Kofi Abu
Dr. Abu in making reference to Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality indicated that, Bauxite mining had been ongoing for years, yet Bauxite mining in the country had not led to any development in the area.
Ms Mercy Owusu Ansah, Director of Tropenbos Ghana, also disclosed that, the Strategy and Action Plan has recognized realistic opportunities for job creation within Ghana’s green economy, based on skill sets, potential skill enhancement, and available financial instruments and mechanisms.
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