Masonia Village, Falaba District, Northern Sierra Leone*
The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourist Board (NTB) Supported by the World Bank Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP) have together with Mathew Humke, the Consultant for the formulation of Wildlife Tourism Policy and Business Plan embarked on Stakeholder engagement and site assessment at Masonia Village, Falaba District.
The idea was conceived by the desire of the President, Brig. Rtd. Dr. Julius Maada Bio for Sierra Leone to have a Wildlife Sanctuary with exotic animals. It followed personnel exchanges between Sierra Leone and Kenya to understudy the Kenya experience in Wildlife Tourism Management in order to replicate same in Sierra Leone. It was against this backdrop that the World Bank under the SLEDP Project hired Solmar International Consultancy to formulate a Wildlife Tourism Policy and a Business Plan for Sierra Leone’s National Parks. National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) and Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary were park of the delegation, recognizing their vital role in protecting the environment and the animals.
Senior Tourist Officer, Tamba S. Bundor remarked that the purpose of the Stakeholder engagement was to promote the interest of the people of Loma Mountain using tourism as an enabler and at the same time develop the parks in a way that will generate revenue for the community without tempering with the authenticity of the forest.
Deputy Director of Tourism, Idrissa Bangura thanked community stakeholders for placing importance on Loma Mountain for its development, adding that government is focused on developing all the National Parks.
NPPA and Tacugama representatives highlighted the need for the protection of the forest in order for the community to harness it benefit through government and private sector interventions
The consultant, Mathew Humke told Stakeholders that tourism development takes time but gives benefit that last longer, hence he encouraged them to adhere to sustainable environmental practices. After the hiking to Camp 1 of Bintumani Mountain in the Loma Forest, he pinpointed opportunities for wildlife and adventure tourism.
Representative of the Paramount Chief, Osman Marah expressed appreciation to the team on behalf of the people of Masonia for the consideration in bringing development to their Village. He committed their full cooperation in benefiting from their touristic asset.
The team together with the Consultant will proceed to Outamba Kilimi National Park for similar engagement and assessment of the park.
Credit – MTCA Communications.
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Friday, May 22nd , 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)