The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, has urged the general public and the diaspora to patronize the Accra Zoo.
After months of closure, the Lands minister today Friday, 9th December 2022, reopened the Accra Zoo to the general public to patronize the Zoo even as the festive season approaches.
Mr Jinapor underscored the importance of Zoos and ecotourism in general to the socio-economic development of the country.
Speaking at the reopening ceremony, he indicated that they provide an effective economic incentive of conservation and protecting the ecosystem and biodiversity, while creating jobs and generating income to support the national economy.
“As we approach the festive season, I want to encourage all of us, both Ghanaians and foreigners alike and particularly our dear students to patronize and interact with nature. The Accra Zoo, I can assure you is safe, and you are all warmly welcome to visit.”
Samuel A. Jinapor
The lands minister exemplified that in Africa, Zoos and ecotourism have become a major boost to the economies of countries like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda and Zambia and hoped that Ghana’s Zoo will also place the country on such heights.
Zoos he noted, are therefore, very crucial to the conservation of terrestrial life and ecosystems, which Ghana is enjoined by Sustainable Development Goal 15 to protect and conserve.
Highlighting the many advantages, the sector minister disclosed that Government is adopting strategic measures to promote zoos and ecotourism in the country. He stated that plans are far advanced to upgrade the three regional zoos in Accra, Tamale and Takoradi to international standards and eventually establish zoos in all sixteen regions of the country.
Whiles assuring the safety of the Zoo, Mr. Jinapor employed the opportunity to call on the private sector to partner Government on the ambitious agenda, to bring zoos closer to the people and promote ecotourism.
Mr Jinapor announced that as part of measures to protect wildlife resources, Cabinet has approved a new Wildlife Resources Management Bill, to be laid in Parliament in the next couple of weeks, to among others, provide a new legal framework for the management of the wildlife resources.
He further commended his Deputy responsible for Lands and Forestry, the CEO of the Forestry Commission and the Forestry Commission staff for their tireless efforts in ensuring excellent leadership direction in the management of the forest and wildlife resources of the country.
Developments at the Accra zoo
On his part, the Chief Executive of Forestry Commission, Mr. John Allotey, in his welcome statement, highlighted some recent developments of the Zoo. He detailed that the Zoo now has a new visitors lounge with benches, streetlights, access routes, camera traps installation at the lion’s den, bold signages with clear instructions, wider and higher cages and two iron gates constructed to intensify security in the Zoo.
He pointed out that security check points have been mounted close to the lion’s enclosure for constant monitoring to prevent future unfortunate occurrences.
The CEO of the Commission also indicated that the Zoo has a Bat Research Center, established to study bat diseases and behavior and the only captive bat breeding population and research Center in the world.
It will be recalled that the Zoo was shut down in August on the instructions of the Minister after an intruder was attacked by the lions.
Prior to this incident, renovations were ongoing to intensify security systems, provide more facilities to ensure the comfort of visitors and make the Zoo more interesting and exciting.
The Forestry Commission (FC) Board of Commissioners led by the Chairman, Tetrete Okuamoah Sekyim II, in November this year, toured the Accra Zoo to inspect ongoing works and new developments put in place to ensure visitors get to enjoy once the Zoo is re-opened.
The Zoo Manager, Mr. Stephen Dunia Tamanja, led the Board to inspect several works that have been done in the past months and explained that a lot of efforts have been put in place to ensure the general outlook of the Zoo is more appealing.
He highlighted some latest developments of the Zoo and took the Board on a tour to see for themselves. He informed the Board that, zebras and bush bucks will be brought from Shai Hills Resource Reserve to the Zoo and cages have been constructed to receive the animals.
The Board of Commissioners expressed excitement with the latest developmental works at the Zoo and commended the Chief Executive, management and staff for their efforts.
The Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Mr John Allotey stated that, the Commission has a very proficient Executive Management Team (EMT) that supports him in discharging his duties as Chief Executive. He emphasized that the EMT is supported by experienced members who contribute to write reports, CE’s Brief, among others.
The Accra Zoo has a total of 108 animals made up of monkeys, Antelopes, Birds, Crocodiles, Snakes, Lions, porcupines, Ostrich, Geese, among others with an average visitation of 32,000 annually.
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