DEVELOPING TOURISM IN THE TANO SOUTH DISTRICT

The Tano South District is one of the 22 districts in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. It lies between latitudes 7⁰00’N and 7⁰25’N and between longitudes 1⁰45W and 2⁰15W. It is bounded on the North and East by Offinso and Ahafo Ano South Districts, both in the Ashanti Region and on its West and South West by the Tano North District. The Tano South District has a total land area of 635 square kilometers, which is 1.54 percent of the total land area of the Brong Ahafo Region.

Tano South is the gateway to the Brong Ahafo Region and has Bechem as its District capital. The people of Tano South District are mainly farmers with tomatoes as the bread basket of the District. The Tano South District can boast of many educational institutions such as the St Joseph College of Education, Bechem Technical School for the Deaf, Bechem Presbyterian Senior High School and the Community Development Vocational Institute, Bechem Business college (Bebusco) and Presbyterian Secondary Commercial (Preseco).

The Tano South District was formerly a Sub – District of the Sunyani District and later divided into two to become the Tano District and which was later divided into the Tano North and South Districts. The Tano South District has some undeveloped tourist sites one of which is the Kwasu Bamboo Groove which could be well developed because of the unique position of the district.

The District can boost of some tourist sites such as the Kwasu Bamboo Groove, the Samuel Otoo tomb at Techmantia and the Onynia Kyere at Dwomo.

The Kwasu Bamboo Groove is situated from a distance one (1) kilometer from the Kwasu Township, a farming village in the District with a distance of five (5) kilometers from the District

Capital Bechem. The groove can be located on the Kwasu Abodai road.

What is unique about this groove is that it occupies a large track of land besides the Kwasu river and provides shelter to it. Another unique feature of the place is that the Kwasu river gives a melodious sound over the rocks it runs.

TOURISM POTENTIALITIES

The Kwasu bamboo groove when developed could serve as follows:

· Recreational Centre

· Sight seeing

· Retreat Centre

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Tano South District Assembly take up the mantle of developing the site or invite investors to team up with to develop these places of interest.

The Kwasu Bamboo Groove when developed could earn revenue for the District Assembly and attract Tourist to the district to enhance trade and job opportunities.

INITIATORS

1. BARNIE K. AGYEMAN DISTRICT INFORMATION OFFICER

2. KIRK KUDOZIA DISTRICT ENGINEER

3. BOAMPONG BOATENG INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT

FACE LIFT FOR BECHEM TOWNSHIP

The Tano South District Assembly is undertaking a number of measures to give Bechem, the District capital a face lift.

Projects currently being undertaken by the District Assembly includes the opening up of Bechem Township Roads, Evacuation of refuse dumps, the demolition of unauthorized structures and the paving of a new Lorry park.

Funds for the face lift is a GH¢468,785.00 discretionary fund allocated to the district for being qualified for the 2008 FOAT assessment.

Sources at the Assembly indicate that Bechem which is the gate way to the Brong Ahafo R

egion needs to be opened up to accessible roads in

the town and the need to clear the huge refuse dumps, some of which is situated in some parts of the town and also provide a

suitable place for a lorry park as the present location demands a b

igger one due to the increasing

number of vehicles using the old lorry park.

According to the Tano South District Chief Executive Hon. Zakari Bukari Anaba, the ongoing face lift would be carried out in other sectors of the township to beautify the town to merit the status of a modern District Capital.