Drop In Revenue At Boti Falls Attributed To Bad Roads

A journey from Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, to one of the oldest famous tourist sites, Boti Falls, was 30 minutes some years back, but today, it takes close to two and a half hours to embark on the same journey from Koforidua to Boti falls in the Yilo Krobo District.

Tourists go through torrid times and unbearable moments traveling to one of the country’s most endowed tourist attraction centre.

The road from Koforidua magazine has developed deep potholes which most drivers who ply the stretch describe as manholes.

The situation becomes bad as you approach Nkurakan a popular market community, as large portions of the road on that stretch has deep potholes.

From Huhunya junction to Boti, which should be less than 8 minutes drive, now takes tourist one and half hours to cover that journey as significant portions of both shoulders of the road have been eroded.

When Citi News took an assessement drive on the road, several vehicles had been abandoned on the road. Most of the vehicles were jerked with one or two tyres removed.

This situation has taken a great toll on tourism in the Eastern Region, according to Richard Kilson, the Manager of Boti falls.

In a Citi News interview, he mentioned how the deplorable conditions of the road has affected their activities.

“The number of tourists who visit our site in a week has drastically reduced all because of the state of the road, tourists are left traumatized after embarking on the trip, some of them develop mechanical faults on their vehicles and those who are lucky may have to change a tyre or two before reaching their destinations”.

“Normally, we try to follow up on our guests who visit the site and the feedback we pick from them indicates they would not like to return to the tourist site or recommend it to others all because of the state of the road. Most tourists say the nature of the road takes away the excitement and joy they experience from seeing the falls, the 250 stairs, the twin palm tree, the caves and the umbrella rock”.

Isaac Kwasi Adusei, a tourist who also spoke to Citi News called on government to intervene immediately to save tourism in the Eastern Region.

“It is a horrible experience driving on this road, the road is so bad that you have to take your vehicle to the mechanic shop immediately after using this stretch. What baffles me is that this is the only road that links to this beautiful tourist site and the state of this road is nothing to write home about”.

“Other tourists who will wish to stay here and enjoy the cool natural environment will not do so but will be in a hurry to leave like I am doing because of the nature of the road, there are no street lights on the deplorable road and if your car breaks down or develops a fault the tendency of you being attacked and robbed is high. If government is really serious about enhancing and developing tourism in the country, they should consider fixing roads to tourist attractions to save tourism in the country”.

Frederick Adjei Rudolph, the Eastern Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourism Authority says the Authority is worried about deplorable conditions of roads leading to tourist sites in the region.

“The Authority is concerned about the nature of roads leading to all our tourist attractions in the region, our attention has been brought to it and we have informed all appropriate authorities about it. Every opportunity I get to talk about tourism I state the bad nature of roads to tourist sites. Recently at the tourism awards, I spoke about it and when we visited the Odweanoma Paragliding site my sector minister saw the nature of road leading to the site and other tourist sites in the region and I am aware she has taken steps to get them fixed”.

“The nature of roads leading to all tourist locations in the Eastern Region are not the best, they have affected output, revenue and productivity, and I hope we all push to help get them fixed”.