The Western Region in recent years has gone through a comprehensive development to meet the aspirations and general well-being of her people.

This transformation involves to a large extent the five developmental priorities of the Government of NPP. These are vigorous infrastructural development; modernisation of agriculture; enhancement of health and education; delivery of good governance laced with the rule of law and development of private sector.

What is legendary about these development projects is the rural, suburban and urban infrastructure development such as the rehabilitation and construction of feeder roads in cocoa growing areas, Urban Roads and Highways upgrading, development of Junior and Senior Secondary Schools and other tertiary institutions, provision of efficient health care services culminating in the reduction in child and maternal mortality complimented, by the Ghana Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, the expansion of small water projects, in rural areas the upgrading of telecommunication facilities and the provision of a modern sports stadium among others.

Consequently as a motivating factor, the Regional Co-ordinating Council has instituted Nurses and Fisheries Awards Day, a Cocoa Housing Scheme for Farmers and Education Trust Fund for school pupil’s students and products in our tertiary institution.

The Metropolitan and District Assemblies have further complemented Governments efforts by providing essential infrastructure e.g. school buildings, potable water, sanitation services as well as the provision of other essential services.

The Regional Minister, Hon A. E. Amoah sums up the successes chalked over the years under the NPP by saying that he will continue to address problems of the region with despatch and accelerate its development. He said identified roads and other essential services which needs immediate attention would be tackled to complement the existing development projects in the region

As part of the Road development Programmes the Government of Ghana received a grant of £7,421,591( pounds sterling) with a government of Ghana component of ¢46 billion cedis making a total of 187 billion cedis for the construction of the Axim Junction Tarkwa Road in the Western Region. The road which is classed as an inter regional road is a major link between the Western Region and other regions.

The road is very important in view of the heavy traffic generated as a result of the important mining enclave in Gold Manganese as well as Timber etc in Tarkwa areas and beyond. It also serves as a major link between Ghana and its West African neighbour including Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.

The construction details include the construction of a new 3 span reinforced concrete bridge of a total length of 60 metres at Bonsaso.

The project spanning 62.4km road which started in June 2003 although behind completion schedule is progressing steadily because of the rugged terrain, the heavy rainfall pattern of the region and the unanticipated small rivulets and streams.

Additionally the Government spent over ¢43b for the tarring of nine feeder roads in the region. According to the former Hon. Minister of the Western Hon. Boahen Aidoo until the beginning of 2001 not a single feeder had been tarred.

The were also a colossal amount of donor support from the Dutch and United Kingdom Government’s for the rehabilitation and construction of bridges on some eleven important rivers such as the Ankobra at Jedua-Afransu Road Disue and Yoyo in Dahama Road and Bonsa on Esuaso road at a cost of ¢31.7b.

HEALTH

The health sector witnessed significant progress with the rehabilitation of a Hostel at the Nurses and Midwifery Training College at Effia Nkwanta at a cost of ¢45billion, construction of the Accident and Emergency Centre at the European Hospital being financed by the Metropolitan Assembly to give support to CAN 2008 is progressing steadily at cost of ¢1.6 billion. Meanwhile, a wing of the Takoradi European Hospital has been designated as a Hernia operating centre. The centre was rehabilitated at a cost of 10m pounds sterling. Six Nurses were sponsored to study at Ply-mouth, United Kingdom at a cost of 10,000.00 pounds sterling and they are back helping the centre.

Similar construction and rehabilitation works are going on in some of the Government Hospitals in the Districts such as construction and completion of Adobokrom Health Centre at an estimated cost of ¢5.8 billion, construction of a two-storey hostel block at Esiama in the Nzema East District at a cost of ¢3.7 billion and the upgrading of the Shama Health Centre to a Poly Clinic in the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Area at a cost of ¢5.4 billion cedis.

As regards the Ghana Mutual Health Insurance Scheme it is yielding a lot of dividends in the region. Although the scheme is fraught with challenges such as inadequacy of logistics, particularly lack of vehicle for information dissemination and campaigns, computers for data processing, inadequate training of staff and invalid number of some SSNIT contributors despite the update of information.

Other challenges include inadequate office space, lack of storage facilities, security data and office equipments and frequent power outages etc. current advertisement over emphasized the payment of the minimum premium of 72,000 cedis as contribution to the scheme.

The rest of the challenges are difficulties in implementing some aspects of ACT 650 such as exemption of the core poor and distribution of HFAC to owners after assessing their facility, delay in submitting bills and HFAC’s to health facilities, inadequate staff to commensurate with the work load; prescription of drugs outside the drug list and pharmacies being debarred from supplying essential drugs outside the drug list.

The scheme has chalked a lot of successes in Sekondi-Takoradi and Shama. A cursory look at the performance of the NHIS in SAEMA shows that the scheme has made tremendous strides in the registration of clients, premiums collected and claims paid.

In the Sekondi Sub Metro Mutual Health Insurance Scheme summarized operational status indicated a membership of 19,955 with ¢688,051,000 as total premium paid. Hospital attendance as from November, 2005 when the scheme began is 3796 and claims paid are ¢363,206,115 by June, 2006.

According to the scheme manager, apart from the recognized government hospital, the scheme pays claims from sister district assemblies namely KEEA, Oguamansin, Asinman, Effigya Sekyere, KATH NHIS.

The Takoradi Mutual Health Insurance Scheme shows a total of ¢33,899 registered members with ¢396,194,000 total premiums collected. Hospital attendance from November, 2005 to June, 2006 was 2167 with ¢296,744,942 claims paid.

A visit to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital also indicated the NHIS clients from November, 2005 June, 2006 was 7,411. According to records officer Francis Kyirewiah, apart from the memoranda of understanding between the hospital and the scheme, within the three sub metropolitan areas namely Sekondi-Takoradi and Shama. The hospital has the same memoranda of understanding with Ahanta West and Mporhor Wassa East to take care of the medical needs of patients within these districts.

Quite apart from these, he said the Hospitals attend to other schemes who have not signed any memoranda of understanding with the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital. These districts are Kpeshie South, Sekyere West, Bantama Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese and Komenda Edina Aguafo Abirem Districts.

He noted that the scheme is running concurrently with the cash and carry system and was optimistic that by the year 2007, the NHIS will take full control of health delivery in the country.

Subsequently, at the Essikadu Polyclinic the Technical Officer in charge of NHIS Josephine Annan said since the introduction of the scheme on 18th November, 2005 to June, 2006 1,997 have benefited from the scheme.

In respect to the supply of drugs the scheme managers said the scheme has made provision for the supply and collection of prescribed drugs, however, in the event of the short fall of drugs in the list there are designated pharmacy shops in the metropolis who supply these drugs namely Kenndics, Abuakwa, Danlizbeth, AAA Mensah, Millennium, Nickson and Joeark pharmacy shops.

In an interview with the Regional Director of Health Services Dr. Sylvester Anemana, despite the initial constraints, the scheme has achieved a lot which should not be glossed over. He intimated that with an initial paltry capital from government for social mobilization and employing scheme staff, purchase of equipment and awareness creation, the scheme has made modest gains which need commendation. He said however, that there is the urgent need for all Ghanaians and government to be proactive by providing support and needed resources to make the scheme operational.

The Regional Director said the awareness creation of such a scheme is the civic responsibility of all health workers, employers and employees, chiefs, Reglious and opinion leaders and civil society in general he said we should take a second look at the approach to the concept. The Regional Director advocated for a comprehensive budget for a scheme such as this for the provision of transport for staff, public address system for awareness creation and other logistics to facilitate the scheme.

In early 2007 the Government heeded to the call of the scheme by making provision for four wheel drive vehicles and computers. According to the manager of the Sekondi Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, Mr. Ransford Okyere, the mutual scheme will soon go hi-tech by configuring all computers under scheme to harmonise their operations.

NURSES AWARD SCHEME

By and large, the institutionalisation of the Nurses Awards Day as motivating factor to our hardworking Nurses cannot be taken for granted. The Awards Day which was instituted in 2003 is a clear manifestation of the contribution of nurses over the years to the national economy. Although a Doctors Awards scheme is yet to be instituted the Best Nurse for three years running had taken home a saloon car and other cash prizes.

EDUCATION

In fulfilment of the 1992 constitutional provision of the compulsory Universal Basic Education, the Government introduced the capitation grant and released an amount of ¢113 billion cedis. To this end enrolment at the regions, pre-school, basic and SSS Level have increased significantly by 22.3% from 88,642 in 2004-2005 to 108,429 in 2005/2006 for pre-school. Meanwhile Primary enrolments increased by 12.4% from 251,642 in 2004/2005 to 282,631 in 2005-2006 and JSS catapulted by 10.5% in real terms from 83,226 in 2004/2005 to 91,970 in 2005-2006.

The initiative of the Regional Co-ordinating council came to the fore with the setting up if the Educational Development Fund. So far the Funds have received support from His Excellency the President of the Republic, the British American Tobacco which contributed ¢100 million and other philanthropists and well wishers.

The fund is to support and facilitate educational development in the region in line with Governments Policy of Human Resoucrce Development. What the fund seeks to achieve is to “reverse the down ward trend of performance in and schools and in another breath to avert the black future and children who are engaged in all forms of mining activities (galamsey) without recourse to school and to the detriment of the region and indeed Ghana” says the former Regional Minister Hon. Joseph Boahen Aidoo.

The interventions NPP Government have made in the ambit of human resources development providing school blocks are very significant. All the thirteen districts in the region have benefited in one way or the other in the construction and rehabilitation from Nkotompo in the SAEMA through Asankrangwa, Sefwi-Kojokrom, Toronpiane (Sefwi Wiawso District) to Fosukrom in the Bia District.

Through the GETFUND some identified Senior Secondary Schools were upgraded notably the Shama Secondary School at a cost of ¢18.7 billion, Amenfiman Secondary School in the Amenfi East District at a cost of 16.3b the Nana Baidoo Bonsu School at Ahanta West District at a cost of 15.2 billion cedis, the Sefwi Wiawso Senior Secondary at Sefwi Wiawso at a cost of 16.6 billion and ongoing Girls Dormitory at archbishop Porter Secondary school in the SAEMA at a cost of ¢6.1 billion cedis are just few example of NPP Governments support to Senior Secondary School Education.

Furthermore the GET FUND has contributed immensely in facilitating the construction of new ultra modern library and a multipurpose Assembly Hall the upgrading of the Tarkwa School of Mines to a full fledged University called University of Mines and technology is very phenomenal.

SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME

The Government School Feeding Programme is complimentary to the compulsory kindergarten and the capitation grant under the FCUBE Programme.

The school feeding programme is being managed by the Metropolitan, Municipal, Districts and school implementation committees with Monitoring Officers as the co-ordinators.

In the Western Region 32,800 school pupils in the kindergarten are fed under the programme which is implemented in all the 13 Districts of the Region. In the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Area 28 schools are beneficiaries of the programme. In these schools 12,810 children are fed; Wassa Amenfi East District 7 schools and 2,207 are fed. Jomoro District 5 schools (2207 children fed), Nzema East District 2 schools (111 children are fed), Amenfi West District 2 schools (1012 children are fed), Bia District 4 schools (2,575 children are fed) Juaboso District 3 schools (1526 children are fed) Wassa West District 2 schools (866 children are fed), Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District 3 schools (1302 children are fed), Aowin-Suaman District 4 school (1577 children are fed), Sefwi-Wiawso District 2 school (1406 children are fed)

The school feeding programme has enrolled 238 kitchen staff through out the region thus giving employment to a segment of the population.

The Western Monitoring Officer Mr. Amoabeng O. Akyeampong said generally the school feeding programme has been managed well in various districts. He said the programme has helped to improve enrolment and retention in various schools. He described the quality and quantity of food as very good because in all the districts, competent caterers and kitchen staff have been employed. There is no doubt that beneficiary’s communities have embraced the programme as depicted by the enthusiasm and commitment of the various districts and school implementation committees.

AGRICULTURE

The Western Region is endowed with rich natural resources including vast tract of fertile lands, virgin forests and parks. It has the potential for the cultivation of vast array of crops like cassava, cocoyam¸ plantain, rice etc and tree crops such as cocoa rubber and oil palm.

The region is the leading producer of many of the country’s commercial tree crops. Available statistics indicate that Cocoa, Oil Palm, Coconut and Rubber contribute 57% 25% 100% respectively of the National Production.

It is no gainsaying the fact that the Western Region produces over 60% of the food basket of country. It produced surpluses in cassava, cocoyam and plantain last year. But inspite of the potential that exists, the region continue to register deficit. As disclosed by the Western Region Minister, maize recorded deficit of 46,937 metric tons, rice 16,266 metric tons and yam 3,555 metric tons. In the food Crop Sub-Sector, maize contributes 7.4% rice 7.3% Cassava 8.7% cocoyam 13.8%, Yam 4.4% and Plantain 22.2%. This situation is even more alarming in the livestock Sub-Sector and Aquaculture of fish Farming. In the Livestock Sub-Sector poultry contributes 0.4%, sheep 11.8% Marine contributes, 10.7% and Aquaculture 0.032%.

Government’s commitment is exemplified with a number of interventions and integrated approach towards agriculture production in the region by increasing the producer price of cocoa, the cocoa spraying initiative and the cocoa bonuses paid to farmers. It also produced copra rubber and palm kernel. The Presidential Initiative on Oil Palm has been boosted in the Mporhor Wassa East District producing large tracts of Oil Palm.

The Ministry of Agriculture in an effort to stepping up total production it is exploring the numerous rural poverty reduction development opportunities as part of the President’s priority areas of developing the rural economy especially targeting the youth to engage in Agricultural production.

To boost local rice production in the Region, the Inland Rice Development Project at Daboase SAEMA and Sefwi Wassa were set up to address low yield and poor quality and increase the income of rice farmers, rice traders and rice processors. So far 252 farmers have been supplied with inputs and cash totalling ¢503,300,000.00 and together they have developed 163 hectares of land out of 1,400 hectares. This intervention has resulted in increased quality rice yield from an average of 1.5 tons per hectares to about 4.5 tons per hectares and has given employment to about 500 rice farmers and processors

Consequently under the Pro-poor Intervention Project, 40 Pig Farmers in Ahanta West district received inputs and cash totalling ¢10,050,000.00 to improve upon their housing and breeding situation. As a result, there is a general improvement in Farmers Confidence Level and transformation in piggery housing.

Similarly, 120 farmers in Nzema East District have been assisted with inputs and cash totalling ¢50,200,000.00 for the cultivation of cassava, vegetables and cowpea for increased yields and incomes.

Again, 120 Farmers from Aowin Suaman, SAEMA, Wassa West and Wassa Amenfi Districts have benefited from inputs and cash totalling ¢200,450,000.00 for the processing of good quality palm oil, palm kennel oil, gari, rice and maize.

Another potential intervention earmarked to provide employment is the Farmer Based Budgetary Support Programme where Government has provided ¢3,724,000,000.00 for about 3,000 Farmers and processors to improve upon the production and processing of maize, rice, cassava, oil palm, poultry and pig.

He said, the above mentioned interventions need much push and diversification for the Region to maximize production to ensure food security and better living. He urged the Regional Directorate of Agriculture to work closely with the regional co-ordinating council to ensure its fruition.

The Coconut Sector Development Project is rehabilitating destroyed coconut farms devastated by the Cape St Paul Wilt Disease, under the project; a new variety of coconut was introduced to replace the old ones. This variety has so far been resistant to the disease and so vast areas of destroyed farms have been planted whilst new areas are also being cultivated. The project was put in place with support from the Government of France. As result of it, coconut yield has increased from an average of 72 nuts to 120 nuts per tree year and had given employment to about 2,000 Coconut Farmers and Processors.
Even though, the first phase for the project ended last year, Coconut Farmers are assured of WIENCO GHANA LIMITED to launch and operate a Coconut Out grower Scheme.

To motivate farmers, the Board of Trustees for the Western Region Cocoa Housing Fund are working on the modalities of the fund. The Cocoa Farmers Housing Scheme” will provide decent and affordable houses for Cocoa Farmers to improve the housing situation in the rural areas and encourage the youth to stay in the rural areas which has a lot of opportunities” says Wilson Arthur Chief Executives of Skyy Power FM and Chairman of the Board.

“The Housing Scheme shall operate upon a trust fund that shall be self-sustaining” say the former Regional Minister. He said “aside the seed money being used in initiating the project, funds will be sourced through annual premiums by prospective owners, returns on investment and requesting for grants among others”.

Although this laudable scheme is yet to take off cocoa formers are assured of a good affordable housing package that will motivate them to produce more.

FISHERIES

The Regional Co-ordinating Council and the Western Regional committee on Premix fuel last year instituted a Fishermen and women awards day to acknowledge the enormous role the fisher folk have played in the nation’s development.

Notwithstanding the dangers inherent in their various forms of occupation the fisher folk continue to support government’s efforts by providing our fish requirements and at reasonable prices to the people says the former Deputy Western Regional Minister Madam Sophia Sam.

It is on record that the Western Region boasts of a long coastline with a very vibrant fishing sector which provides employment to a large number of fisher folk. The region has a fleet of about 2400 motorised and non motorised dug out canoes which operate from 80 landing sites along the Western Coastline. These together contribute on estimated fish catch of between 42,000 and 48,000 metric tonnes of fish in the continental shelf. What the Western Region needs are storage facilities in some of the landing beaches where the fish catch are heavy during bumper catch.

The Minister for Water Resources Works and Housing in recent past paid a working visit to the Inchaban and Daboase Water Works and indicated an expansion programme of the two facilities. With the expansion works, it is envisaged that the occasional intrusion of sea water and acute shortage of water in the metropolis and adjoining districts will cease. There are also small water projects in the Jomoro and Ahanta West Districts with boreholes and dug out wells in all the 13 Districts of the Western Region.

TELECOMMUNICATION

Telecommunication in the Western Region has been upgraded with the expansion of additional telephone lines to meet the growing demand of the Region. Telephone services could be assessed in all the 13 districts of the Region.

COASTAL WORKS

To reclaim land and arrest incessant threat of the sea coastal works are being constructed at Essaman, Nkotompo, Ekuasi and Dixcove.

We cannot gloss over the challenges and problems the region face. The Chief and people have already expressed their profound frustration about the slow pace of development of the regions infrastructure. They are of the view that the resources of the region do not commensurate with the type of development.

This frustration is exacerbated with lots of untarred roads, under development of the free zone enclave as an export processing zone in the Region. There is the urgent need to show case the enclave as an investment destination.

The development of rail transport by the Ghana Railway Corporation to facilitate transportation of Cocoa, timber, Bauxite, Manganese and transport and goods and services need urgent attention. The Rehabilitation and expansion of the Takoradi Harbour especially the wharf to accommodate big ships should be of prime importance for the port to live by her accolade as the premier port of Ghana.

Western Region in general and Sekondi Takoradi in particular is ready and poised to host CAN 2008. With the new 38.5million dollars ultra modern stadium which was completed after 20 month of work was handed over to Government on November 2, 2007. the venue will host Group B made up of Nigeria, Cote d’voire, Mali and Senegal. What the Western Region is telling all Ghanaians and the rest of Africa is that the region is looking forward to the best tournament because the best is always in the West.

GHANA TOURISM AND CULTURE - WESTERN REGION

The Western Region of Ghana adjoins the border with La Cote d’voire on the west, Central Region on the east. Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions in the north and the Atlantic Ocean in the south presenting a striking contrast between current and modern towns or cities.

With a growing population of 1.8 Million, the region covers an area of 23,921sqkm about 10% the size of Ghana. The Region is one of the first areas to welcome early European traders and merchants. This is distinguished by the European Town in Sekondi where there are edifices of European architecture and a European cemetery in Essikado a suburb of Sekondi representing European culture.

For the tourist, the forts and castles dotted around the coastline are a magnet as they reflect the diversity of building styles that were employed by the colonial masters and traders and the relics and remnants of slave trade. Of particular interests is Fort Apollonian in Beyin and Fort Metal Cross at Dixcove, many of these castles over looking some of the beaches of the Region.

MINING

The western region was one of the earliest regions to mine gold and other minerals and boast of some of the oldest mines and Tarkwa being at the centre stage of the Regions mining industry. This not withstanding, the mining industry in the region has metamorphosed into a mining enclave in Ghana with large potentials in the industry such as the Tarkwa Goldfields, the Pretea Goldfields, and the Nsuta Manganese and Awaso Bauxite. To date, the Teberebe Goldfields, Billiton Bogoso Gold Ltd. Aboso Goldfields Ghana Ltd. have chalked historical mining successes in the Gold Industry.

Indeed without doubt, the human resource needed to facilitate the industry was crucial hence the setting up of the Tarkwa School of mines and its elevation to a University status affiliated to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology-Kumasi.

HARBOUR

The Western Region has a modern harbour with an appreciable cargo turn around port of less than 48hrs and state of the art equipment to facilitate clearing and forwarding of goods as well as a port for exporting 60% of raw materials from Ghana to Europe and Americas.

EXPORT PROCESSING ZONES

There is also a Free zone enclave to promote processing and manufacturing of goods through the establishment of Export Processing Zones (EPZ) as focal points to produce goods and services for the foreign market.

FOREST

The Region has the most fertile lands in Ghana. About 75% of the region falls within the high forest zone of Ghana and takes about 44% of the total closed forest area in the country. Furthermore the region has the largest share of Ghana’s timber resources with exploitable species like Odum, Mahogany, Offram, Wawa and silk cotton tree with emerging lesser known species.
Driving around the region the roads are lined with rubber, cocoa, coconut, oil palm plantation and traditional agricultural products.

CULTURE

The Region’s rich cultural heritage manifests it self in festivals e.g. Kundum is celebrated from August to November by the Ahantas. The Aowins celebrate the Elluelie festivals every three years in the month of February and the Elluo festival is celebrated by a section of the Nzemas of Bamiankor while Odwira festival is celebrated by a section of the Ahantas domiciled at Mporhor in September.
Currently, the Elluelie and Afehye festivals are celebrated by the Sefwis in July to August and August to September respectively. Meanwhile, the Wassas in Benso celebrate the Afehye and Edie in January and those in Benso celebrate Afehye and Odwira in August and September.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE WESTERN REGION

THE FORTS/CASTLES

The Western Region is a region with rich cultural heritage demonstrated by a number of historic forts and castles-relics of slave trade as far back as the 16th century which are still open to visitors.
Fort St Apollonian is located 90km west of Takoradi. It was built by the English in 1768. In 1868 it was transferred to the Dutch, who renamed it after King Willem II. The Dutch held it until 1872 when it was turned over to Britain by a treaty.

Fort Metal Cross at Dixcove located 35km west of Takoradi is an English fort built between 1692-1698 to prevent English captains from trading at Fort Groot Fredericksburg to the detriment of English commerce.

Fort Baterstein in Butre was built by the Dutch in 1656 and handed over to the British in 1872. This fort overlooks one of the most breath-taking beaches in the world.

Fort Groot Fredericksburg is at Princess town located 30km on the Takoradi on the Elubo highway and a place of recent oil discovery built by the Brondemburgers in 1683. In 1708, it was taken over by Chief Conney (an Ahantan). It was recaptured by the Dutch and renamed Hillandia.
Fort St. Antonio is at Axim located 63km west of Takoradi. It is a Portuguese fort currently being used as a High Court.
Fort Sebastian at Shama is located 20km east of Takoradi. Built by the Portuguese in 1950 as a monument for Dr. William Anthony Amoo, one of Ghana’s legendary philosophers.
Fort Orange in Sekondi was built by the Dutch sitting near the Sekondi Naval Base and now used as a light house.

BEACHES

The Western Region is famous for of some the best beaches in Ghana, with a coastline of about 192km from Shama in the east to Half Assini in the west. The Region boasts of a flourishing fishing industry. Tuna, herrings, cod, mauling (sword fish) and salmon abound offshore to be harvested all year round.
In fact, the sunny beaches are luxurious areas of relaxation and some of the best popular beaches are Busua Pleasure Beach 5km from Fort Metal Cross, Takoradi sports club beach located 10km off Takoradi-Tarkwa road and 200m from the Didowa lagoon, Princess Town Beach off Takoradi-Elubo highway and Miamia beach, a secluded beach with rocky caves and a perfect place for picnics located 55km off Abura on the Takoradi-Elubo highway.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

Other attractions worth mentioning is the picturesque and amazing village on stilt where life goes on at the centre of a lake called Tandane. The village Nzulezo (an Nzema word meaning a village on top of water) is located 5km North of Benin. The houses are built on stilt and all social, economic and traditional village life styles adapt very well to the watery conditions. An excursion to Benin involves a walk through the reeds of the lakes edge to the village which welcomes visitors every day except a sacred Thursday. There are other smaller villages on stilt at Kojokrum and Nyame Bekyere all on the Abbey lagoon of Jewi wharf.
Island water bodies and islands also play a major contribution to the tourism industry in the region and these are the Bobo Island in Axim, the Abbey lagoon at Jew wharf and Lake Tandane 90km west of Takoradi as well as estuaries like the Pra, Ankobra, Amansuri, Butre and Whin rivers.

CONSERVATION RESERVE AND PARKS

The Western Region falls within the high forest zone reserve in Ghana of which Ankassa and Nini Suhien National Parks are located 130km west of Takoradi and closer to the La Cote d’Voire border. It is a home of evergreen elephants, Diana monkey and Bongo as well as the legendary bamboo canopy. This is an area designated as an international Biosphere reserve.
Consequently the Bia National Park located on the northern part of the region can be accessed from Brong Ahafo and la Cote d’Voire. It is a zone of evergreen and semi-deciduous tropical forest. These areas are potential investment areas in tourism. The attractiveness of Bia could further be enhanced through the creation of tourism opportunities in nearby Krokosua hills forest reserve where seven to eight species of primates exist.
Access to that forest reserve although poses some difficulties, these challenges could be overcome if the hills become more of an adventure tourism destination for hardened rain foresters and primate enthusiasts.
Aside, there is the Cape Three Point forest reserve about 45 minutes drive from Takoradi in the west southern part of Ghana and close by to a rich tropical rain forest. Meanwhile the monkey hill on the heart of Sekondi-Takoradi is a tropical forest inhabited by monkeys and rare spices of birds and butterflies.

CROCODILES PONDS AND SANCTURIES

The Aketekyi crocodile pond and Egyembra crocodile sanctuary are untapped National tourism attractions. In all these areas, the local fetish priest entices the crocodile from water with a live chicken and a bottle of coca cola and a fowl respectively after traditionally pouring of libation. Except on Wednesdays which is a sacred day, visitors are permitted to the sanctuary

DR NKRUMAH’S GRAVE

Nkroful the birth and original burial place of Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of blessed memory is 83km west of Takoradi. Although the mortal remains of the late president has been re-buried at a mausoleum in Accra, the original burial place remains intact.
Significantly, the famous stream where the president during his childhood days took his bath and the few hamlets where he grew still remains.

INVESTMENT

The Western Region is an investment centre with potential investment opportunities in mining, industries such as agro processing, tourism, manufacturing, oil and gas exploitation and related industries which are yet to be fully tapped.
The Region could best be described as the food basket of Ghana and the region hold keys to Ghana’s development.

MINING

The major minerals found in the region are gold, bauxite, manganese, diamond, oil and gas deposits ferromanganese and minor deposits of kaolin silica limestone sand and stone.

IRON AND STEEL

There is an integrated iron and steel project due to availability of two major imports i.e. iron ore at Oppong Manso and limestone at Nauli are a great source of potential investment and can generate employment for several people.

MANUFACTURING OF GLASS CONTAINERS

The Aboso glass factory which is no longer operational is a potential industry for the manufacturing of glass and bottles and packaging inputs for food and beverage industry.

RUBBER PRODUCTS

The existence of large rubber plantation and GHANA RUBBER ESTATE LIMITED (GREL), the rubber manufacturing factory could supply rubber for rubber based products manufacture such as rubber sheets, foam interiors, car parts, conveyor belts and hoses. Other rubber products such as surgical gloves, boots and retread rubber have great potential in the region. The Benso Tire manufacture factory which is currently on divestiture could also take advantage of the large rubber supplies to manufacture tires and tubes for all kinds of vehicles.

MANUFACTURING

The Western Region is well noted for agro based industries, wood processing, textiles and garment, leathers and rubber products, cement milling and medicinal tool.

FOOD PROCESSING

Meanwhile, the food sub sector indudes flour milling (Takoradi Flour Mill), palm fruit and copra processing into oil (Subri Industrial Plantation, Benso Oil Palm plantation) cocoa (WAMCO) maize, cassava and vegetable processing.
For all intents and purposes, tourism has a large multiplying effect on the economy being the third largest foreign exchange earner for the country. It is against this background that the 1996 National Tourism Development Plan NTDP 1996-2010 put together by the Ministry of Tourism, UNDP and World Tourism Organization (WTO) aimed among other things to develop tourism in an integrated and sustainable manner. The areas which were specifically identified were wildlife and community based tourism in Ghana and the need to formulate tourism development plan for each of the ten regions of the country.
Indeed there is the potential for developing a limited tourism industry in the Western Region that would create employment and business opportunities and also provide a realistic alternative to other employment and business sectors or supplement what exists at the moment.
At a recent orientation programme on dissemination of tourism information for information officers and the media in Takoradi, it was noted that tourism potentials abound in the Western Region in particular and Ghana in general.
However, this remains untapped or yet be developed to achieve economic benefits in the mist of poorly developed tourism infrastructure.
There is therefore the need to galvanize and co-ordinate support from government and all stakeholders of the need to develop the tourism infrastructure and to invest in tourism to earn the necessary foreign exchange for accelerated rate of development and growth of the economy.

BLAZING THE TRAIL - ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE WESTERN REGION

The Western Region could aptly be described as the region that holds the key to Ghana’s development in view of her natural endowments vis-a-vis the other nine regions in Ghana. It is also known to be the food basket of Ghana, producing over 60% of the country’s agriculture and exportable commodities.

The region is located in the south western corner of Ghana and covers an area of 23921sqkm, about 10% the size of Ghana and a population of 1.8m people.
Indeed the region offers great investment opportunities in mining e.g. gold, bauxite, manganese, diamond, iron ore, silica, sand etc, agriculture, timber and tourism as well as manufacturing of oil and gas exploitation (recently discovered in large quantities around Cape Three Points) and agro wood processing.

The major constraints in the region are the bad nature of roads especially in the northern corridors of the region. In fact, roads in the region have been described as the “worst anybody can think of”. The bad nature of the roads has been blamed partly to the rugged terrain, the high rainfall pattern and the high forest zone of the region.

Although the region plays an important role part in the national economy its development lags behind Greater Accra and Ashanti Region in infrastructure development.

Records indicate that in 2001, not a single feeder road in the region was tarred. However, in the last two decades, the region has seen significant development in road construction, especially roads in the cocoa processing areas under a STABEX 1 2 3 facilities to facilitate the haulage of cocoa to the ports.

FEEDER ROADS

The feeder roads network in the region has attracted Government attention in the reshaping of 6.50km of feeder roads in the food producing areas, market centres, cocoa and other cash crop growing areas in the region. By 2005, nine feeder roads totalling 61.7km have been tarred at a cost of ¢43.04billion.
Additionally, eleven feeder roads measuring 102.2km saw spot improvements at a cost of ¢ 12.68 billion. Consequently 43 feeder roads have received attention at a total cost of 90.1 billion, of which six of the feeder roads are being tarred.

To complement the projects, 16 bridges sponsored by the British and Dutch Governments at ¢43.5 billion were constructed in 12 districts of the Western Region.

A cursory look at the Wassa Amenfi East District showed that various attempts were made to address problems on roads linking most of the rural communities that help in the transportation of people and goods since 2004. Over 298km of roads network were rehabilitated, graveled and resealed.

In the Mporhor Wassa East District for example 7.6km Daboase junction to Daboase town roads were tarred. The Bia District saw the maintenance of Old Papase junction to Old Papase roads, Camp 15 to Owonato to Adiekye and Essam to Debiso junction were gravelled and resealed.

In the Wassa West District, five feeder roads were completed. They are the surface dressing of 9.4km Tarkwa to Bonsawire, the rehabilitation of the 5km Aboso to Achiase road and spot improvement of the 6.6km Bonsawire to Esuaso road. Other road constructions are the 10km Aboso-Wassa Nkran-Essikuma to Pillar 1 and 6.4km Anyinase – Atwereboarda road as well as the reshaping of Prestea Owirigum Nsuean-Dominase feeder roads.

In the Wassa Amenfi West District 340km of roads were rehabilitated including the first phase of 11.8km Asankrangwa town roads.
Other major roads rehabilitated are the 11km to Ohiamatua junction to Ohiamatua, 11km Gravel Yard junction to Gravel Yard 33.9km, Pansanam to Dwirigum to Pretea and 26.1km Kwabeng to Kofiyar to Sefwi Bekwai roads.
The rest of the roads are 6.1km Jontuakrum - Bokakrum to Fordjourkrum, 24.0km Ankwaso to Watrem and 15.9km Agona Camp to Nyinahin among others. Furthermore the district assembly submitted total of 135km of cocoa roads for reshaping under the auspices of COCBOD.

In the Aowin Suaman District, 83.6km Amanhyia and its catchment’s area feeder roads, the 67.6km Achimfo to Bonsaso as well as the Adonikrum junction to Adonikrum were rehabilitated.
The 8.8km Nyamebekyere junction to Nyamebekyere, 6.5km Boinso-Appiahkrum, 5.8km Asuapokua junction to Korjour are being rehabilitated.
Meanwhile constructions of Bridges on river Yoyo and River Disue are on-going.
In the Nzema East District, the Anyinase - Nyamebekyere and Anyinase to Asasetre and Akoto junction roads have been reconstructed and will soon be completed. Work has started on the Anyinase town roads phase I and II and Alabokaso Tikobo No. 2 phase I and II including Eikwe road are almost completed.

In the Ahanta West District, constructions of foot bridges to facilitate movement of people have been completed at Akwidaa and Butre as well as the completion of construction of culverts at Domebra.

URBAN ROADS

Under Urban roads 21 projects at acost of 104.2billion were completed in 2005. Most prominent of these are the reconstruction of the Inchaban Sekondi Adembra road and the reconstruction of the African to harbour road in Takoradi.
In 2006, thirty projects at a total cost of ¢26.9billion were earmarked most of which are currently under construction amongst them is the partial construction of Fijai-by-pass.

HIGHWAYS

The Ghana Highway Authority reconstruction of 1642km trunk roads are either on-going or at its completed stages of development. Prominent among them is the ¢141.4billion Apmanim Tarkwa road classed as an inter regional road. The road starts from Axim junction and ends at Bogoso in the North- a distance of 62.4km.

The road is a major link between the Western and Ashanti Regions and carries traffic generated as a result of the important mining activities in Tarkwa area and beyond.

Apart from serving as a major link between Ghana and La Cote d’ Voire, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the road also passes through several significant towns including Nsuaem, Wassa Fiase, Simpa, Dompem Pepease, Bonsaso, Tamso and Tarkwa. Though, work delayed because of the frequent rainfall and rugged terrain the project is about 90% complete.
Other significant roads which have remarkably being completed are the Manso Amenfi Asankrangua road, the Bibiani-Abuakwa overlay, rehabilitation works on the Princess Town roads in the Ahanta West District and rehabilitation of Mpataba-Half Assini roads.

The roads which are in their advanced stages of completion are rehabilitation of Axim town roads, Bibiani town roads, reconstruction of portions of Agona junction- Elubo road and rehabilitation of Enchi town roads.

In the northern corridors of the region, the reconstruction and asphalting of the Sefwi Wiaso-Benchima barrier road are on course. Meanwhile construction work on the Benchima-Oseikojokrum roads are progressing steadily.

The Ghana Highway Authority has awarded on contract an additional 5km Oseikojokrum to Benchiman and Sefwi Wiasso to Akontobra road. Currently work is on-going on the Bibiani town roads, the resealing of the Mpataba- Half-Assini roads. Meanwhile the Asankrangua to Enchi road has been awarded on contract and work will soon start.

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