International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

Ada Beach - Ghana Demonstration Project: Eco-tourism and Poverty alleviation

Ghana’s coastline extends for about 550km and is generally low lying (≤ 200m above sea level). The coastal zone of Ghana abounds in rich marine ecosystems coupled with considerable historical monuments. In Ghana, tourism is an emergent key source of national income and is currently the fourth largest foreign exchange earner in the country. Its peaceful atmosphere and stable political climate make it a good choice for investors.

The demonstration project aims to strengthen existing environmental policy, legislation and institutional arrangements for encouraging and achieving better environmental management in Ghana’s smaller hotel sector through a combination of both regulatory and voluntary initiatives. It is expected that the demonstration project will also help to create markets in the supply of environmental products and services as well as support the growth of eco-tourism. Its peaceful atmosphere and stable political climate make it a good choice for investors. As far as coastal tourism is concerned, the country is endowed with a wide range of both natural and historical potentialities. Thus, Ghana’s coastline extends for about 550km and is generally low lying (≤ 200m above sea level). The coastal zone of Ghana abounds in rich marine ecosystems coupled with considerable historical monuments. Generally concentrated along the coast are attractive old forts and castles built by Europeans during the period 1482 to 1837. The forts and castles which initially served as trading posts for the trade in gold and ivory were later used as slave dungeons and transit points for slaves who were shipped to the Americas. Currently a number of the forts and castles including Cape Coast and Elmina castles have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ghana’s castles attract several thousand international and domestic tourists annually.

It must be noted that all along the coast of Ghana, relatively improved road infrastructure is available. Ghana is one West African country with high class resort (e.g. La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Elmina beach resort as well as Busua beach resort). However, poor sanitation and management of human wastes in the coastal settlements could adversely affect patronage of beaches by foreign tourists. In addition, sewage pollution from major cities, like Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire, has in the past resulted in algal blooms on the western coast of Ghana, which besides creating serious problems for artisanal fishermen also reduces the aesthetic value of the beaches. Plastic bags and other solid waste constitute in several points of the coast a serious concern. This has recently led to a project of collection and recycling of plastic in Central region of Ghana.
For more details view here

- See more at: http://coast.iwlearn.org/en/countries/ghana-demonstration-project-environmental-management-systems-eco-tourism-and-poverty-alleviation#sthash.ktMkzxFm.dpuf

DEMO PROJECT COORDINATOR
Mr. Agyeman YAW DICKSON
TOURISM FOCAL POINT
Dr. Joel SONNE
ENVIRONMENT FOCAL POINT
Mr. Kwamena ESSILFIE QUAISON
- See more at: http://coast.iwlearn.org/en/countries/ghana-demonstration-project-environmental-management-systems-eco-tourism-and-poverty-alleviation#sthash.ktMkzxFm.dpuf

2129 - Demonstrating and Capturing Best Practices and Technologies for the Reduction of Land-sourced Impacts Resulting from Coastal Tourism (COAST)