By Isaac Arkoh, GNA
Assin-Manso (C/R), Aug. 03, GNA - Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Assin South Constituency, has proposed the establishment of an Emancipation Heritage Trust Fund (EHTF) to unlock the tourism potentials of the area through effective financial resource mobilisation.
Speaking at this year's commemoration of the Emancipation Day at Assin Manso on Wednesday, the MP said the Fund would seek to promote private sector participation in tourism development in the area.
The area is well endowed with immense natural, cultural, historical and artistic attractions and re-enforcing moves for stakeholders’ participation and greater commitment to develop and promote resources at the local and international scene was necessary.
In addition to boosting the local economy, he pointed out that it will create employment for the youth, while setting the pace for rapid socio-infrastructural development in the area to improve the livelihoods of the citizenry.
"Tourism has the potential of creating jobs for local communities where tourist sites are located, to redistribute wealth and income that would promote national unity and cohesion leading to economic development," he said.
He appealed to investors particularly Africans in the Diaspora to invest the resources in the area and encouraged them to exploit the untapped tourism potentials to enhance business growth as well as boost the local economy.
He said accessible tourism for all was about the creation of the best environment that could cater for the needs of everyone and underscored his commitment to that effect.
“The Government recognizes the role of the private sector as the engine of growth and this calls for the repositioning of private sector to take full advantage of the enabling environment for private businesses to thrive”.
He said it was important for all stakeholders to use their platforms to support and market key investment areas of attractions to harness their full potentials to benefit the people of the District and the country as whole.
"We must invest more in creating cultural tours and connecting them up to existing European culture routes such as textile routes, wine routes and others, adding that more culturally based tourism in the region would help boost the flagging economy, as growth in this sector is a recognized worldwide trend," the MP noted.
Mr Derrick Owusu Ambrose, the District Chief Executive (DCE), urged all to see the Day as victory of the resilience of our ancestors over the evil and atrocities against fellow human beings.
He encouraged all blacks to leave behind the bitterness associated with slavery and focus on the togetherness and the resilience that drove “our ancestors to liberate the black race”.
GNA
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