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Shai Hills Resource Reserve — a destination for memorable holiday experience
The tourism industry, just like other sectors, had borne the brunt of the global pandemic with many recreational sites receiving a less significant number of visitors. However, operators are hopeful of an increased turn out this year.
The Shai Hills Resource Reserve located at Doryumu in the Shai Osudoku District in the Greater Accra Region, for instance, used to record about 27,000 to 30,000 visitors annually but that figure had reduced to 16,000 as of December last year.
Mr Prince Anane Agyei, Park Manager of the reserve, who indicated this in an interview with The Spectator, said they had started lots of publicity last year and were expecting more visitors but the lockdown and travel restrictions had affected their plans.
He said the numbers only started improving in the last quarter of 2020 and the facility as of January 2021 was making further progress.
Mr. Agyei projected more patronage by the second quarter of this year, adding that the reserve was adopting other publicity and marketing strategies to attract more local visitors.
He noted that a chunk of visitors to the site were non-Ghanaians which to some extent, accounted for the drop in their figures.
“COVID-19 has taught us that we will have to target more domestic tourism. We need to boost publicity and education on the various sites across the country to attract more people,” he said.
The park manager admitted that lots of Ghanaians did not have enough disposable income hence were reluctant in visiting tourist centres.
Nonetheless, he said, their rates remained affordable and the facility would continue to provide visitors quality and memorable experience.
“Entrance fee for adults range from at least GH25.00 and there are other attractive packages for children, and other groups of individuals,” he said
Background
The Shai Hills Resource Reserve provides an opportunity to experience Wildlife without having to move far away from the capital city, Accra.
The dry evergreen savannah forest with a size of 51km sq. allows tourists to enjoy a unique combination of wildlife, nature and an amazing landscape.
The Reserve, which is one of the 16 Protected Areas, under the Wildlife Division (WD) of the Forestry Commission (FC) is one worth seeing for its natural beauty.
It is a bird haven also with over 150-bird species. The Reserve has a rich cultural history and heritage of the people of Shai who were once occupying the place which has a museum of natural and cultural history with a wide scope of artefacts.
The park has accommodation facilities and tourists are able to explore the various hills and caves in the park by way of adventure.
By Ernest Nutsugah
The Africa Investment Network has entered a new partnership with 17 Asset Management to expand investment opportunities for Africans in the diaspora.
The two organisations will work together to open more pathways for diaspora investors, provide better data on markets, and connect investors to viable projects across the continent.
The partnership will focus on mapping investment opportunities across countries and sectors, building a Diaspora Pathways Program to guide new investors, and creating a shared research platform that provides market insights, returns benchmarks, regulatory updates and sector outlooks.
The two groups will also develop a trade and deal catalogue to help match businesses with partners.
As part of the collaboration, both institutions will host investment roadshows through the Global Africa Summit series, starting with GAS Accra from December 11 to 12 at the Alisa Hotel.
The event will showcase deals, hold sector briefings and connect investors with government and private sector actors.
Africa Investment Network founder and Chief Executive Jane Reindorf Osei noted that diaspora capital remains one of Africa’s strongest advantages because it is patient, purpose driven and closely linked to local development outcomes.
She explained that the partnership will help direct more diaspora investment into areas where it can make the most impact.
Chairman of 17 Asset Management, John Morris, highlighted that the joint effort will blend strong investment design with Africa Investment Network’s networks and convening power.
He stressed that improved research and compliant market access will give diaspora investors more confidence across different markets.
The two institutions will open their diaspora investment platform in the second quarter of 2026, followed by the launch of a co investment window.
Investment roadshows will also be held in North America, the Caribbean and key African centres next year.
Africa Investment Network and 17 Asset Management invited governments, development finance institutions, family offices, asset managers and other partners to support deal creation, risk sharing and market building initiatives aimed at boosting diaspora participation.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu insists that neither President Mahama nor the National Democratic Congress has filed any petition seeking the removal of the Electoral Commission Chairperson and her two deputies.
In a one on one Interview with GHone, he explained that the President only forwarded petitions he received, as required by law, and has not initiated any action against the EC leadership.
According to him, the identities and motives of the petitioners remain unknown to government, and the Presidency is not involved in that part of the process.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu stressed that while the NDC has openly disagreed with some actions of the Electoral Commission in the past, the party has not submitted any petition asking for the removal of the EC Chair or her deputies.
He noted that comments by the NDC National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, questioning the EC’s competence, do not amount to a formal petition.
He added that criticism of public officials is normal and does not automatically translate into a request for their removal.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu explained that once a petition is received, the President’s only role is to forward it to the Chief Justice.
The Chief Justice then decides if the allegations have merit. If they do, a committee is set up to investigate.
He said those named in the petitions will be officially informed by the Chief Justice, not the Presidency.
They will then have the opportunity to appear before the committee, respond to the claims, and provide any evidence in their defence.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu expressed confidence that the process will be fair and will protect the rights of all those involved.
By: Jacob Aggrey
