The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nabdam in the Upper East Region, Francis Yenwona Tobig, has called on investors to explore the tourism and environmental conservation potential of the Nangodi Fish Sanctuary to stimulate economic growth and preserve local traditions.
He said the sanctuary, which hosts fish in their natural habitat, had significant potential to attract visitors and create economic opportunities if properly developed and managed.
Mr Tobig made the call during an accounting-to-the-people session, where he rendered an account of his stewardship, outlined the district's development potential and appealed for private-sector investment in key areas of the local economy.
“The development of the fish sanctuary is one of the investment opportunities that could help position Nabdam as a destination for nature-based tourism and environmental conservation,” he said.
He added, “In fact, this very fish sanctuary is a potential, very huge potential. When you finish and you go there, you will see how the fish are moving around there.”
Conservation and tourism
Mr Tobig explained that developing the sanctuary would not only create opportunities for tourism but also contribute to protecting the environment and preserving the district's cultural heritage.
The fish sanctuary in Nangodi
He said the sanctuary could help protect certain species and support efforts to address climate change, stressing the need to harness its potential for the benefit of the district.
“So we are thinking that when that is developed, it will take care of the environment, protect certain species and also ensure that our tradition and culture are preserved,” he said.
The DCE said the district had other investment opportunities, including accommodation facilities, agricultural mechanisation, rice milling, packaging and marketing, as well as tourism development.
He noted that the growing mining activities in the area presented an opportunity for investors to establish accommodation facilities to meet the needs of people working in the sector.
“The district is wide open. The district has the potential. Mining is coming on there. So those who are in that sector, you should be looking at developing and coming to invest hugely here in accommodation,” he said.
Mr Tobig further identified elephant conservation and ecotourism as other areas with significant investment potential in the district.
He said the presence of elephants at Nabdam presented an opportunity to develop a tourism attraction through proper management and conservation.
He said the district was interested in attracting investors to support the management of the elephants and ensure that their presence benefited local communities.
“We will benefit from them because when it is properly managed, a lot of investors will come and we should rather turn it into something beneficial rather than looking at it as a problem,” he said.
