TOURIST POTENTIAL SITES IN SOME DISTRICTS IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF GHANA

Fig 46: Tourism Potential sites in the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District

Source: DPCU Construct, 2017

The district is one of the most endowed regarding tourism potential in the country. The district
has 13 tourism potential sites, but the most patronized among them is the Kakum National
Park which boasts of one of the unique tourist sites in the country. Additionally, the district in
collaboration with the Ghana Heritage Conservation Trust has earmarked the Emipom and
Banaso Sacred Groves in Ampenkro and Jukwa respectively for development. However, with
their great potential, many of these sites are yet to be fully developed to turn over the desired
socio-economic benefits. Furthermore, the allied art and craft enterprises located in some of
the tourist sites are also not growing as they have failed to attract the needed support. All
these have contributed to the dwindling economic prospects for the people in these areas in
particular and the district in general. Besides the under listed major tourist sites, there are
others that are yet to be developed. The major sites are indicated table 22
 Tourist sites in the district

SR. POTENTIAL TOURIST ATTRACTION LOCATION

1. Canopy Shaped Rock
This is a mysterious rock formation which can provide shade for about Jukwa Bremang
40 people. It is located in a small forest reserve and conserved as a
sacred place and could be appropriate for camping and sightseeing.
2. Mbem Waterfall
The waterfall is found on River Surowi (Sweet River). It gives showers Mbem
and covers a radius of 100m. This site has the potential to attract
activities like picnicking and research.
6. Akwantufo Bodan (Travellers Rock House)
This is a mighty rock with cave that can provide shelter for many Jukwa Frami
people. The site attracts activities like caving, rock climbing and
camping.
7. Birds sanctuary
This site is located at the entrance of Kakum National Park in a
bamboo growing area. It provides home to many bird species which Abrafo
have made different kinds of nests. It is a potential site for bird
watching, listening to the sound of different species of birds.
9. Emipom Ancestral Sacred Grove
This is a Cave (Sacred Grove) with different apartments which is Twifo Ampenkro
located at the summit of a mountain set in the “Bepotenten” Forest
Reserve. It covers an area of about 15 hectares. The Grove is rich in
both tree and wildlife species. It is endowed with beautiful layers of
rock which houses large African pythons.
The grove is considered abode for the gods of the Twifo Hemang
Traditional Area. The gods are said to provide the people with rains
during drought and also protect the people against diseases and other
natural disasters. The grove is found to have a huge tourism potential
that could be packaged and harnessed into tourist product to
generate revenue for the district as well as create jobs for the youth
in the area. As a way of protecting the site against over exploitation
the Traditional Authority has set aside Tuesdays as days where no one
enters the grove. Again, hunting and felling of tree are strictly not
allowed in the grove.
10. Cocoa Museum Abrafo
This is a cocoa museum being constructed at Abrafo, with
permanent- and thematic exhibitions in-doors and an educational
cocoa-farm attached.
11 Banaso Sacred Grove
The grove is located in Jukwa, near the Jukwa Senior High Sec. Sch. On
the Twifo Praso – Cape Coast Rd. It covers an area of 10 hectares and
has been in existence about 1830. It is rich in different forest tree
species and a lot of fishes in the ‘Sweet River’ passing through the Jukwa
grove. It is considered as an abode for the gods who provide
protection for the people against misery and other natural disasters.
The grove plays cultural and traditional significant roles in the local
area. It holds a great potential for tourist attraction as there exists a
wide variety of forest tree species, wildlife (special frog species,
monkeys, mud fish rivers) and a shrine.
13 Kakum National Park Abrafo Odumasi
Kakum National Park, located in the coastal environs of the Central
Region of Ghana, covers an area of 375 square kilometres (145 sq mi).
Established in 1931 as a reserve, it was gazetted as a national park
only in 1992 after an initial survey of avifauna was conducted. The
area is covered with tropical forest. The uniqueness of this park lies in
the fact that it was established at the initiative of the local people and
not by the State Department of wildlife who are responsible for
wildlife preservation in Ghana. It is one of only 3 locations in Africa
with a canopy walkway, which is 350 metres (1,150 ft) long and
connects seven tree tops which provides access to the forest.
The most notable endangered species of fauna in the park are Diana
monkey, giant bongo antelope, yellow-backed duiker and African
elephant. It is also an Important Bird Area recognized by the Bird Life
International with the bird area fully overlapping the park area. The
bird inventory confirmed 266 species in the park, including eight
species of global conservation concern. One of these species of
concern is the white-breasted guineafowl. Nine species of hornbill
and the grey parrot have been recorded. It is very rich in butterflies
as well, and a new species was discovered in 1993. As of 2012, the
densest population of forest elephants in Ghana is located in Kakum.
The Museums and Monuments Board of the Republic of Ghana has
proposed that UNESCO declare the park a natural World Heritage Site
under criteria vii and x. The submission made in 2000 is listed under
the tentative List of World Heritage Sites.
Pictures above: Eroat Ghana Ltd and Some management of CEDECOM at a meeting
Pictures above: A multi-purpose craft village centre aimed among others at housing and
marketing artisans and their wares – Facilitated by CEDECOM