Tourism Attractions

Mole National park, Ghana’s biggest and perhaps best-stocked national park is located at Damongo and this provides the basis for what is evolving into a flourishing tourism industry in the West Gonja district. Already, the park attracts visitors from all over the world as well as hordes of domestic tourist.

Ethnicity And Religion

There are 22 ethnic groups in the district.  The major groups in order of magnitude include, Gonja, Tampulma, Dagomba, Hanga, Mamprusi and Dagarbas.  The Kokombas who have since the 1994 ethnic conflict left the district used to be a major ethnic group.  The lack of ethnic homogeneity tends to constrain socio-cultural organization and development.  However there is inter-tribal marriages and peaceful co-existence, which provides unity in diversity.

There are four major religious groups. These are as follows, Islam about 70%, Catholic 10%, Protestants 8% and Traditional Worshippers 12%.  Relatively there is religious harmony, which is a pre-requisite for development.

The park contains 93 mammal species, 33 reptile species, 9 species of amphibians and about 300 species of birds. About 600 elephants are estimated to live in the park alongside buffalo, roan antelope, kob, hartebeest, waterbuck, lions, leopards, hyenas, four primate species and crocodiles.

 
Even though the Mole National Park has partially developed visitors facilities, more needs to be done and marketing needs to be stepped up to ensure that returns on this major tourist attraction are maximized. The District Assembly recommended that investors would do well for both themselves and the district’s tourism industry by developing tourist camps within the park to serve as focal points for game viewing.

 
The national park itself covers 4,840 square kilometers which means there is room for several such tourist camps. There is also the need for investment in the construction and management of hotels outside the park itself. There is only one motel within the park and this does not have enough capacity to provide sufficient accommodation and services for the numerous tourists who visit the park.

 
The hotels may be cited at Larabanga, a village which lies at the gateway to the park. Investor could establish a tour company in Damongo with links in Accra and strategic places outside the country. This would serve to provide a tour-marketing vehicle, aimed at domestic and foreign tourist, by arranging package tours to Mole National Park and possibly other tourist attractions in the district

Indeed, there are several other interesting tourist sites in West Gonja District. These include the Larabanga Mosque, one of the oldest in Ghana, which illustrates the earliest interaction between the indigenes and the Sudanic influences that shaped the area’s evolution. Gonja Kingdom Regalia also provide great interest for cultural tourists, while nature lovers can use river transport to enjoy the scenic views on the district’s main rivers.

The local inland port at Buipe makes for very intriguing tourism. Another opportunity lies in the establishment of a craft village stocked with souvenirs from other parts of the district and indeed the Northern Region in general. Indeed, West Gonja District is replete with advantages that can be put to good use by investors.

 
The district has a conducive socio-cultural environment, a relatively youthful populace, willing to take up new job challenges, and the resource support of both the District Assembly itself and some non-governmental organizations.

Below are the major tourists attraction centers in the District.
Tourists Sites.

Tourists Sites

11. Mognori Comm. Eco Tourism (CREMA)   Mognori/Mole