The Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency, and
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor,
MP, has called on Ghanaians, residents of Ghana, and visitors who
come to the country to visit the Damongo Constituency, which he
says is, arguably, the number one tourist destination in northern
Ghana. He said the Constituency, which is made up of one
hundred and four (104) towns, villages and communities, is home
to several sites of historical significance, awe-inspiring
landscapes, and cultural diversity, which make the Constituency
an exceptional destination for tourists seeking to immerse
themselves in the beauty and traditions of Ghana and West
Africa.
Mr. Jinapor was speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, 12 th July,
2023, when he made a statement on tourist attractions in the
Damongo Constituency. He said tourism offers a glimpse into our
history, culture and nature, and thus should not be reserved for
foreigners alone. He said there are several tourist attractions in
the country, which if well patronised, will contribute substantially
to our national economy.
Tourism has become a major boost for many countries across
Africa, such as Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda, and
Zambia. On Tuesday, July 4, 2023, President Akufo-Addo
commissioned the renovated and modernised Kwame Nkrumah
Memorial Park, with a commitment to make Ghana the tourism
hub of West Africa. Mr. Jianpor said this initiative, coupled with
others, such as the Year of Return and Beyond the Return, shows
Government’s commitment to promoting tourism in the country.
Highlighting some of the tourist attractions in the Damongo
Constituency, the Member of Parliament mentioned the Larabanga
Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Africa, mostly referred to
as “the Mecca of West Africa.” The over six hundred (600)
year old Mosque is said to have been built by one Ayuba, after
Allah had revealed to him in a dream to build a mosque, which
Allah himself had already laid the foundations. Inside the Mosque
is an ancient Qur’an believed to have been delivered by Allah to
the Imam of the Mosque in 1650.
Mr. Jinapor also mentioned the Mystic Stone, also located at
Larabanga. According to legend, when the colonial Government
was contracting a road through Larabanga, they removed the
stone, but came back the following day to find that the stone had
returned to its previous position, and when this persisted, they
were compelled to divert the road, and leave the stone in its
position, which it has remained till date.
Other tourist attractions cited by the Member of Parliament
include the Mognori Eco Village, a community-based tourism
project in Mognori, that provides a range of tourist activities such
as guided nature walks, traditional and drumming and dancing
and handicraft demonstrations, as well as the Mole National Park,
the first, largest and most prestigious protected area in the
country, which previously served as a Game Clearance Area, but
currently hosts, various plant and animal species, including
elephants, buffalos, lions, monkeys, and other rare and
endangered species.
This park also hosts West Africa’s first luxury safari lodge, the
Zaina Lodge, which provides top-notch hospitality services with a
unique cultural touch to visitors of the Park and its catchment
areas.
Mr. Jinapor said Damongo, which serves as the capital of the
Constituency, the Savannah Region, as well as the Gonja
Kingdom, and which hosts the famous Jakpa Skin, exudes cultural
richness, and offers patrons rich cultural and historical experience
of the Gonja people, including their festivals, such as the Damba
and Fire (or Jintigi) Festivals. He said the centrality of the
Damongo Constituency, makes it an exceptional place to lodge
and connect to the other parts of northern Ghana.
Mr. Jinapor thanked President Akufo-Addo and the Minister for
Tourism, Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, for the special
attention they have paid to tourism in the Damongo Constituency,
and called on all and sundry, to patronise these sites for the rich
experience they offer.
Members who contributed to the Statement were enthused about
the tourist attractions in the Constituency. The Member of
Parliament for Ketu South, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, urged the
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, to take Mr.
Jinapor’s Statement and explore the various tourist destinations
for employment opportunities for the youth.
