ABSTRACT
Chapter 8 is about the socio-cultural development impacts of the Natural Resource Conservation Project in Kakum National Park and fringing communities. It points out that Park management has contributed significantly to the development of educational and healthcare facilities, community infrastructure, public conservation education, residential and material support for the Wildlife Division staff and development of tourism. It also makes an observation on the Park as a leisure centre and points out host community perceptions of tourism development impacts as well as issues of socio-cultural sustainability. It argues achievements do not meet community needs and are generally concentrated in a few villages. Tourism was not much economically rewarding to local communities. Host community involvement in ecotourism initiatives foundered on ineffective inclusion in the planning processes, lack of adequate knowledge and education and effective governance institution. Park authority’s funding challenge is due to the general visitation decline illustrated in the suspension of support to the local bamboo orchestra that had been generating revenue through its performances. The Park has attracted migrants into the area and communities perceive tourism as causing criminal activities, family conflicts over limited employment and income distribution, despair in parts but contributing to the economic independence of women, generally.
