[ 2016-08-22 ]

Work begins on $1.2 billion Accra Eco Park
The construction of the $1.2 billion Accra Eco
park is underway, following a sod cutting ceremony
to signal the beginning of the project.

The ecotourism project, to be done in phases, is
being undertaken by the Forestry Commission and
its private partner, Aikan Capital Limited and is
scheduled for completion between the next five and
seven years.

The first phase of the project is expected to be
completed in 24 months.

President John Dramani Mahama, in a speech read
on his behalf, said government had decided to
convert the Achimota Forest into a world-class
recreational facility and a major tourism
destination in West Africa rather than allow
further encroachment and dumping of waste into the
forest.

“This development will preserve the only green
belt in Accra, and allow the forest to continue to
function as a carbon sink and clean the air and at
the same time create jobs and business
opportunities for the private sector,” he said.

The project involves the construction of
amusement parks, orchards, arboretum, wildlife
safaris, museums, eco-commercial enclaves and
eco-lodges but with little disruption in the
natural vegetation as possible.

It will also have a spiritual enclave to cater
for spiritual/worship activities that bring more
than 180,000 people annually to the Achimota
Forest.

There are also plans for high seating capacity
conference rooms to be sited outside the main
forest area.

Nii Osah Mills, the Minister of Lands and Natural
Resources, said the Achimota Forest Reserve had
long been recognised as having outstanding
potential for tourism development, considering its
location in the city.

“The Accra Eco-Park development has, therefore,
been conceived to provide a unique opportunity to
demonstrate to the business community and the
public that ecotourism is a viable,
environmentally friendly, employment-creating,
sustainable income-generating venture,” he
stated.

It will add to the country’s major national
parks—Kakum in the Central Region and Mole in
the Northern Region.

Mr Samuel Afari Dartey, the Chief Executive of
the Forestry Commission, said there was the need
to undertake innovative ecotourism development as
a means to safeguard the ecological integrity of
the forest.

He said the Eco-Park Project will target about 2
per cent of all visitors to West Africa
Sub-region, attracting more than 600,000 visitors
to the Accra Eco-Park annually.

The project will create more than 4,000 jobs
during the construction phase and about 2,500
direct jobs during the implementation phase, he
said, adding that the Forestry Commission would
receive about 20 per cent of revenue generated.

In addition, the Government of Ghana will receive
revenue in the form of corporate taxes, PAYE and
social security payments (SSNIT) and other
indirect taxes.

For the private sector numerous business
opportunities will be created thus enhancing the
contribution of the forestry sector to national
development.

The Chief Executive Officer of Aikan Capital
Limited, Mr Oheneba Otchere, said the project
makes room for the planting of more trees to
enhance the forest cover.

The lease agreement allows Aikan Capital to
design, build and operate the facility for 10
years.

Source - GNA

... go Back