The Aburihene and Adontehene of Akuapem, OtubourGyanKwasi II, has appealed to the government to invest in the Aburi Botanical Gardens to generate income for the country.
The Chief who expressed worry over the deplorable state of the 1890 Garden, said investing in the garden would enhance tourism in the country and create jobs for the youth in the area and beyond.
“The Garden has a long history of Governors who have stayed in the garden. We had our first clinic, post office among other facilities in the garden and we have gradually lost it and the garden is in deplorable state,” he said and urged government to intervene.
OtubourGyanKwasi II made the appeal when President, Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on him, Wednesday as part of his three-day tour of the Eastern region.
The President’s three-day tour was to enable him ascertain the extent gone on government projects, inaugurate new ones and cut sod for new projects to begin.
The Aburihene said the Aburi Botanical Gardens was one of the major concerns of his subjects and called onthe government to prioritise it and immediately intervene.
He also explained to the President that the area was well endowed with pineapples, adding that they were being left to rot or sold cheap to other factories outside the area.
He revealed that a pineapple factory had started, but its operations came to a halt due to inadequate funds.
“We are pleading with government to consider this factory under its One-district-one-factory initiative so that we can make judicious use of our pineapples.”
The Aburihene also appealed the government to reconstruct the Kitase-Brekusu road, adding that the deplorable state of the road was long overdue.
He, however, thanked the president for the many projects done in the area and asked that uncompleted ones be completed soon.
For his part, the President Akufo-Addo said the revamping of the Aburi Botanical Gardens was one of the priorities of the government, since it was a huge environmental potential.
He said several talks with the Minister for Tourism and Creative Arts, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed-Awalhad taken place to that effect and assured it would be done.
The president added that the Finance Minister had made a promise to include it into the budget slated to be read in November this year.
FROM AMA TEKYIWAA AMPADU AGYEMAN, ABURI
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