Management of Mole National Park has received a new Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle to help boost the growth of local tourism.
The gesture by CITES-MIKE programme, with funding from the European Union, aims to protect the population of elephants and other target species at the National Park
The CITES-MIKE programme also supported rehabilitation of the park’s range camps; such as the Bawena range camp which is being given a facelift, while rehabilitation at the Jang range camp has also been completed.
The CITES MIKE Programme, a site-based monitoring of elephant mortality and other species, is involved in the implementation of activities to enhance enforcement and cross-border collaboration between MIKE sites and other areas located in critical trans-boundary ecosystems of Eastern and Southern Africa.
A six-room outpost camp with ancillary borehole facilities is also nearing completion close to the Groupe community in the Savannah Region.
The project is a major boost for continued conservation of Ghana’s premier conservation area, the Mole National Park, established in 1958.
The Park Manager, Ali Mahama, speaking to the B&FT said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in July 2021 included the provision of a Toyota Land Cruiser all-terrain vehicle to augment the park’s fleet and boost its operational capacity.
He noted that despite the commitment by management to ensure maintenance and protection of the park, logistics have been a major concern – making it difficult for tour guides and the security personnel to embark on routine checks around the park, hence the MoU.
“The park is very big, so much that we need more logistics for staff to be able to execute their duties well, promote and preserve the country’s heritage,” he said.
The vehicle was recently procured and delivered to the park management, and is already greatly supporting the park’s operations.
“The provision of field logistics has also greatly boosted staff morale and efficiency. The management and staff of Mole Park are ever grateful for this kind gesture, and will endeavour to maximise the benefits to ensure adequate protection of the vast 4,577 square kilometre park,” he stated.
He said initiatives by government such as ‘Beyond the Return’, ‘Eat Ghana and Wear Ghana’, among other tourism promotions have boosted domestic tourism.
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