General News of Sunday, 8 March 2015
Source: Starrfmonline.com
The Flagstaff House Communication Bureau has described as “false”, reports circulating on social media that a $1.2-million zoo is to be put up at the presidency.
“There is a false story of a $1.2-m zoo to be constructed at the flagstaff house and been attributed to a release from the FH Communications Bureau,” a statement from the Bureau posted by presidential staffer Stan Dogbe said.
“There has been no such release from the FH [Flagstaff House] and that can be confirmed by the hundreds of media and non-media persons on our mailing list.
“I cannot explain the rationale for the decision to write and circulate this false release,” the statement said, adding: “What I can confirm is that no such release has been circulated by the FH communications bureau.”
Below is the circulating story which the Bureau has described as false:
Government to build 1.2 million dollar Zoo at Flagstaff house
Government has secured a loan to build a first class Zoo at Flagstaff house as parts of efforts to beautify the seat of government and make it an attraction.
The Zoo is to be constructed by Madrinha Holba Construction of Brazil at the cost of 1.2 million dollars.
One could recall that in the first Republic President Dr Kwame Nkrumah had a private zoo at the old Flagstaff house. After his overthrow it was open to the general public.
However years of neglect and decline left the Accra Zoo in a terrible state with just a small collection of animals such as monkeys, snakes and rare birds such as parakeets.
It is heart-warming and gratifying to Ghanaians that President John Dramani Mahama as part of his efforts at boosting local tourism is investing in a new zoo on the flagstaff house estate that will house rare wildlife such as birds, crocodiles, rattlesnakes, monkeys ,birds, elephants and leopards.
Observers believe will go in a long way to boost tourism in the city and add more value to the seat of government.
Tourism is one of Ghana’s largest foreign exchange earners and the building of Zoos across the nation is part of the government’s promises to revamp local tourism.
Insiders and advisors are excited about this project and believe that it will transform the flagstaff house as visiting dignitaries and visitors can spend time relaxing at the zoo.
Work on the new zoo is expected to begin in early April.
Source-Flagstaff House Communications