- 3 entities submit drafts for review
Three Ghanaian architectural firms have submitted a draft masterplan that is currently being reviewed to become the National Tourism Sites Masterplan, CEO-Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyeman, has said.
The firms – Consortium, Amalgamated and Evans Anfom – were part of consultancies chosen through competitive tendering in 2021 to work on the World Bank-funded Ghana Tourism Development Project (GTDP).
The three were tasked to execute a masterplan for managing Ghana’s tourism sites and attractions, with key consideration for the Southern Enclave, Northern Enclave and Craft Villages across the country.
Mr. Agyeman was speaking to the B&FT on the masterplan’s status, and said: “The firms have all done extensive consultations feeding into their final proposals. All three have submitted their draft final plans, which are now being reviewed to become the National Tourism Sites Masterplan. The plan tackles needed work in most of the public sites, and how they can be helped to feed off each other. This, when in implementation, forms part of the preservation and maintenance plan for all sites and attractions,” he indicated.
Before 2019, the GTA did not have full control of managing all tourism sites and attractions across the country. This situation caused several challenges in regard to maintenance of these sites; and monies collected were not being invested into the development of most community-owned tourist sites, as well as private sites, in Ghana.
Realising that most of the sites were in disrepair due to governance and managerial issues, the GTA pushed for a Legislative Instrument (LI) on the management of all sites and attractions.
The LI (2939) on sites and attractions was passed since 2019 to regulate all sites so as to deepen accountability. The LI has also provided a framework for some partnerships that have seen some investments and upgrades, developments and management restructuring in some community-controlled sites.
Through these arrangements, tourism site upgrades and rehabilitation work have gone on in places like Nzulezu, Kintampo, Tafi Atome, Aburi Gardens, Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm and Bonwire among others.
With private sector sites, there was a call for proposals for grants under the GTDP in 2020 and 2021 Mr. Agyeman said, adding: “Some of the private sites which have been granted some support funding under this arrangement include Manhyia, Bisa Aberewa, Afadjato, Pan African Heritage World etc.”
He revealed that the redesigns and additions to Kwame Nkrumah Park have been done, and the procurement processes are ongoing to select a contractor for the build-up. Equally, the Tourism Ministry has confirmed that there are ongoing plans for upgrades of public attractions such as the forts and castles, museums and parks among others.
