Eco-Tourism needn't only support leisure tourism. Voluteer researchers are playing an important role in eco-tourism projects throughout Africa. One beneficiary is the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary.
The remote fishing and farming villages of Wechiau in north-west Ghana flank the Black Volta River, home to Ghana’s sole remaining hippo population. The hippos need easy access to on-shore feeding grounds, but farms and fishing areas are encroaching on the hippo lawns by the riverbanks. As a result, the animals come into regular conflict with villagers and are seen as pests because they destroy crops and inhabit waters where fishermen work. Measures taken by local people to protect farms and fishing equipment threaten the hippos’ continued existence.
Realising the danger, the people of Wechiau established a Community Hippo Sanctuary three years ago to protect the last remaining hippos and develop eco-tourism. The charity Earthwatch is helping the community and the Ghanaian Nature Conservation Research Centre to execute a detailed ecological survey, by providing funds and a workforce of Ghanaian scientists and Earthwatch volunteers from around the world.
Volunteers spend two weeks closely examining the hippos’ feeding habits, and studying other flora and fauna. They stay in simple but comfortable tourist lodges nearby. The area has minimal western influence: a cook prepares local cuisine and villagers often invite volunteers to traditional celebrations.
Asafo: a people's militia - was a well established social and political organization based on martial principles. Every able-bodied person belonged to an asafo group.
Cape Coast Castle - Ghana
Cape Coast Castle was built by the British in 1665, over a period of 50 years. For the construction wood, marble and other building materials were imported from England. The country had a lot of gold and as a result it was called "Gold Coast".
