Map reading: Are tourists Independent in Ghana?

How independent are the tourists who chose Ghana as a holiday destination?

Tourism is becoming the buzzword in Ghana these days. The Government and various groups are focusing on cashing in our 50th birthday celebrations. Is the Government taking actions?

Have we achieved the key stages of a sort of developments to attract the tourists in the last 49 years of our independence? While many communities are actively improving their underdevelopment others are just waiting for the Government with community developments.

Ghana is blessed in so many ways. We have adequate good drinking water in many areas, a sort of adequate electric supply, good weather and a warm crowd of people.

What is the missing gap in our development?

? Lack of bridges on many of our rivers to bring communities closer together

? Limited Street management strategies-

? Lack of Road Sign posts to communicate with the motorist

? Lack of tourists information centres

? Lack of good infrastructure

? Lack of basic services for villages

? Lack of an effective transport systems, Clear Trotro stops for passengers

? Lack of a regular clean up in all our cities and the communities

? Lack of road map for all areas.

? Lack of sense of effective road directions.

? Lack of security or quick response from the police when there is a crisis due to lack of map reading skills.

? It is now interesting that to see a report that our current Mr Patrick Kwateng Acheampong, Inspector General of Police, last Friday saw the need for map reading to be inculcated into basic school curriculum to enable pupils to know various locations in the country.

? He highlighted that this would l enable the police force to assist visitors and also help in the combat against crime. It appears he still has not received copies of the maps as yet.

? The IGP also stated that the maps would help the Police to quickly locate crime scenes and enhance their efficiency. Surely this should be part of the police force essentials anyway!

? The general public would welcome a long over due proactive thinking. As the IGP pointed out such an exercise would facilitate easy location would amount to faster movement of security personnel, ambulances and fire fighting tenders. This would enhance our image abroad and also increase the tourist confidence in becoming independent in our country.

? The IGP finally pointed out that, this initiative would impress on the public the need to use street names, help security agencies in the control of riots and demonstrations and traffic control, among other things. He appealed to city authorities to endeavour to name streets to facilitate easy location.

? Surely, any Government that comes to power must be flexible to listen and accommodate Ghanaians in Diaspora and engage with them in order to get the best for the progress of our country.

? Community must also learn to be more assertive and hold their assembly representative to account to ensnare the communities is well informed with modern times.

? While promoting tourism Ghana must tough its borders, as there are certain group of tourism with a hidden agenda. Ghana must be assertive to challenge any one they see is engaging in something that would cause a concern. It would also be helpful if the IGP spells out areas that would create a concern for the general public to report to the police. Ghanaian must make no mistake. We must adhere to the principles our great ancestors left for us. To stand tall to be counted.

? Surely, printing maps of Ghana is a wonderful idea however, the maps must be updated yearly and the whole country need to be educated to make effective for the maps and learn this basic skills needs for orienting ourselves and enjoy our own natural resources.

? Scouts and brownies may need to also introduce this new concept and expose the youth to using maps to explore the natural beauty around us in Ghana and in relation to the world.

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.