The
development of tourism in more sustainable manner has helped increase in the
country’s foreign exchange earnings. Thus, the promotion of domestic tourism in
general and the development of historical, cultural and natural heritage sites
in particular have made tourism a major source of domestic income for majority
of Ghanaian, thereby improving the living conditions of inhabitants of the
countryside where these sites are located.
Statistics
available at the Ghana Tourism Authority indicate that the facility, which was
adopted in 2000 as a world heritage site, received a total of 13,163 visitors,
both local and foreign, raking in GH¢790,074.00 as revenue in 2013 (http://goo.gl/amn9Fy)
Nzulezu,
an Nzema word meaning “surface on water,” is
a unique
community-based eco-tourist site
in Ghana with rich
historical background and
geographical location. The village is built on stilts and sits
on the surface of Lake Tadane in Jomoro District, Western
Region-Ghana. The people migrated from Mali and have been dwelling on the lake
since the 16th Century. The village has a
population of over 600 people who are predominantly into fishing and farming, petty
trading, selling of African artefacts (small wooden canoe models) as well
animal husbandry.
iTourGH
is a social youth group based in Takoradi, Western Region, that is committed to
exploring the various tourism sites and rich culture in Ghana. It looks forward
in promoting and exposing tourism amongst the Ghanaian youths. In quest of
exploring and promoting tourism amongst the Ghana youth, the group embarked on an
educational trip to Nzulezu on August 27, 2016.
In
the course of interactions, the tourist guard, an indigene of the community
revealed that for the past years, the village receives only 12% as a share of
revenue generated from the tour rates paid by tourists. The Nzulezu Visitors
Centre situated in Beyin which is being managed by Ghana Wildlife Society and Ghana
Tourism Authority is entitled to the remaining 88% of the revenue.
Nana
Takilika VII, Chief of Nzulezu, together with his people, has been demanding
for increment in their share from the Ghana Wildlife Society and the Ghana
Tourism Authority. The village has not been seeing any beneficial use of the
remaining 88%. At times, the 12% is not even paid to them. “If we receive higher amount of the revenue generated, we can embark on
some of the development projects the village wishes to achieve,” the
tourist guard explained. Currently, the community is building a teacher’s
quarters and a multi-purpose community centre funded by the 12% share of
revenue they receive.
There
is no health centre in the community. The village seeks to provide attractive packages for luring new teachers who refuse postings to their community and
also motivating the old ones to stay. Also, the community lacks a Junior High
School and this has resulted in majority of the school children not furthering
their education after the completion of Old Nzulezu D/A Primary School. Only a few of the children further their
education by attending schools located outside the village, with the nearest
school located at Beyin Community.
He
said, “the village expects a lot of
developments from the Ghana Wildlife Society and the Ghana Tourism Authority in
terms of improving Visitors Facilities and Services like guest houses, bar and
restaurants, museums and display of African artifacts centre, improved canoes in
transporting tourists”. “Hosting tourists for more than a day in our community
is also something that we are looking forward in doing,” he added.
Credit: Philip Prah
iTourGH
Takoradi,
Western Region-Ghana
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