Emmanuel Jewel Peprah Mensah

Globally, ecomuseums, as examples of integrated museums, have prioritised local community participation as well as the promotion of cultural heritage and territoriality in the field of ecotourism since the 1970s. However, in Ghana, ecomuseums are a less explored extended activity at ecotourism sites. Preliminary research at the Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary in the Ashanti Region of Ghana revealed that there is less patronage of the ecotourism facility due to the absence of extended activities targeted at visitor engagement and experience. This convergent parallel mixed methods study rooted in phenomenology and descriptive survey design investigated the possibility of establishing an ecomuseum at the sanctuary. The study found that the establishment of an ecomuseum facility would promote Kumawu’s cultural heritage. Also, it would enhance visitor engagement, promote local community ownership, increase revenue generation, and lead to the conservation of nature. The study contends that the establishment of an ecomuseum would lead to greater patronage of Ghana’s Protected Areas while creating job avenues, especially for forest-fringe communities. The study proposes an investment into the establishment of locally specific extended activities in the various nature reserves, zoological parks, and gardens, as well as wildlife sanctuaries in the country, to enhance ecotourism development in Ghana.

One of the viable, but less explored extended activities at ecotourism sites such as zoological parks and gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, and nature reserves in Ghana is ecomuseum. Preliminary research at the Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary in the Ashanti Region of Ghana revealed that there is less patronage of the ecotourism facility due to the absence of extended activities targeted at visitor engagement and enrichment of cultural heritage experience. This convergent parallel mixed methods study adopts phenomenology and descriptive study as research designs investigate the possibility of establishing an ecomuseum at the sanctuary. The study found that the establishment of the proposed ecomuseum would promote and project the cultural values and traditions of the local communities. Also, it would enhance visitor engagement, promote local community ownership, incrrease revenue generation at the wildlife sanctuary and lead to the conservation of nature. The study contends that the establishment of ecomuseums would lead to greater patronage of Ghana’s Protected Areas while creating job avenues especially for forest-fringe communities. The study proposes an investment into the establishment of local-specific extended activities in the various nature reserves, zoological parks, and gardens as well as wildlife sanctuaries in the country to enhance ecotourism development in Ghana.