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Monday, February 1, 2016

TOURISM: Duasidan Monkey Sanctuary

Trying out a selfie. Didn't work out well. :-)
Duasidan is a community in the Dormaa District of the Brong Ahafo Region in Ghana. It is approximately 10Km along the western end of the Dormaa-Gonokrom Road. Do keep an eye out for the Customs check point. The road to the community is immediately after it (on the left).
The sanctuary, which is a small forest preserved as an ancestral grove, has three species of monkeys:
  • Campell’s monkey (Kwakuo in Akan)
  • Spot-nosed monkey (Ahenhema in Akan) and
  • Olive Colobus monkey (Asibe in Akan)

The monkeys were discovered by the ancestors of the community, over a century ago. They are considered sacred and therefore are not to be harmed, or killed by anybody. To paraphrase the words of a guide at the sanctuary, “If you plan to kill, or harm any of the monkeys, you won’t live to execute that plan.”
Female Campell feeding her young
I've got my eyes on you, tourists!

The community has a number of objectives which personally I think would go a long way to develop the community, while placing the sanctuary (launched in 2007) at par with its sister sanctuary at Buabeng-Fiema. These include:
  • Building a guest house to accommodate and entertain tourists
  • Seek financial help from NGOs and the District Assembly
  • Solicit technical assistance from the Wildlife Division and Government.