Culture and Tradition

The municipal has three (3) traditional areas namely the Kotoku, Bosome and Abuakwa each year celebrate different festivals which draw people from all corners of the world. The Kotoku’s festival known as Odwira is celebrated in any week of December or January each year.

Activities ranging from the performance of certain rituals for ancestors, traditional drumming and dancing, drama among others are carried out. Dramas and stories are told to show the root of the Akyems.

The three (3) traditional events in the Municipality could offer opportunities for tourist development. The odwira and other two festivals and the exotic culture of the people could be packaged to meet the ethno-cultural tourism demand of many tourists who visit Ghana-Odwira and the other festivals in their historical context aim at strengthening the mutual bond of friendship amongst the local residents for development.

These potentials can also provide grounds for educational and research tourism for African Americans in the Diasporas who demand a lot of information to trace their root.

Ethnicity

PAs high as 70% of the sample population are Akans. Tribes like the Ewes and Northerners constitute about 30% of the population.
The Municipality is therefore heterogeneous in terms of ethnicity and the greater proportion of the migrants tribes have lived in a situation which could promote development.

Religion

In terms of religion, the Municipality is predominantly Christian since about 97% of the sampled populations are Christians. Moslems and traditionalists constitute the remaining 3%. These structures could be used effectively in the dissemination of information.

Heritage

There are few sports in the Municipality which have chieftaincy disputes/problems including the Kotukus Traditional are in Akim Oda, the Akroso problem and that of Osorase which undeniably affects the communal spirit in undertaking development projects in these areas.

It is however worth mentioning that District Security Committee (DISEC) chaired by the Municipal Chief Executive has been established and measures have been put in place to resolve the issues amicably so as to ensure smooth development of those areas affected.

This analysis emanating from the poverty profile and mapping reveals that most of the settlements have no services due to their small population sizes. Most settlements are accessible by feeder roads whilst a sizeable number are also accessible by village tracks.

 Hotels

There are also a number of Hotel facilities in the  Municipality to accommodate tourist investors and other visitors.
These include:

1. Ntiamoah Hotel
2. Rabbson Hotel
3. Ankumah Lodge

Madarina Hotel and other Guest Houses such as:

• Morning Star
• O’Right Guest House and
• Gyae M’Enka Guest House
• Ages-Abba Hotel,

Tourism Attractions

Birim Central Municipal falls within the Eastern Development Zone which is one of the eight (8) Tourism Development Zones of the Country. This zone offers very attractive hills, valleys, land slaps and scenic views, waterfalls and historic places. The Municipality is endowed with 9 Forest Reserves which are resourceful in the requisite flora and fauna (particularly developed). These are Bemu Blocks I, II and III, Birim Extension Esen Epam, Esuboni, Pra-Birim South and Pra-Birim North. The “Biggest Tree” in West Africa is found in the Municipality on the Oda-Agona Swedru trunk road. The tree is 12m in circumstance and 66.5 tall.

The tourism attractions in the Birim Central Municipal are in the areas of parks, wildlife sanctuary, picturesque water bodies, historic sites and artifacts. However, many of these are not well developed.

The muicipality is endowed with well-managed forest reserves that are resourceful in the requisite flora and fauna, which are basic to the development of attractive wildlife sanctuaries and parks.

The “Big Tree”, which is one of the most attractive tourist spots in the country, is located in one of the district’s nine forest reserves, called the Esen Epan Forest Reserve, about 22 kilometres from Akim Oda on the Oda – Agona Swedru trunk road. The tree, believed to be the biggest in West Africa, is 12 metres in circumference and 66.5 metres tall.

The municipality’s nine forest reserves are good for game and wildlife parks, souvenir shops and the like. Areas around the “Big Tree”, which is already a prime tourist attraction, can be complemented with good access road, eating and relaxation places, souvenir shops and other such things. The beautiful sceneries along the banks of the Birim River are also good for the development of camps and chalets, particularly, areas around Oda Secondary School.

There are already several good quality hotels and guest houses in place to receive visitors, especially at Akim Oda, the municipal capital. Private participation in the development of tourist resorts is eagerly anticipated by the Birim Central Municipal Assembly, which is willing to provide investors a strong helping hand.
 Plans are far advanced towards the development of the “Big Tree” with good access roads, eating and relaxation places, souvenirs and shops. However, areas including forest in the Birim Central Municipal remain uncombed. As at now the site is underdeveloped and underutilized, but plans are under way by the Municipal Assembly to the sector.

As mentioned in the performance review, the Municipal Assembly is making frantic efforts to harness the tourism potential in the municipality.

A draft proposal on the BIG TREE Receptive facility has been prepared by Ghana Tourist Development Board in collaboration with the Municipal Assembly and traditional authorities towards the development of this big tree site and other tourism potentials is under review. This is to attract more tourists into the municipality and generate more revenue for development. The municipality also hosted a cultural Tourist team from the University of Georgia to prepare a tourist plan for Birim Central Municipal Assembly.

Based on these initiatives, the development of the BIG TREE Receptive facility has begun with the provision of a restaurant facility and extension of, in progress. There is however the need for a greater collaboration among all stake holders including the Municipal Assembly, Ghana Tourist Development Board, Private Sector and the Communities involved, in terms of ideas and resources. There is also the need to put in place a committee to spearhead the process in order to speed up the implementation of the project.

The development of “Big Tree” Receptive facility is on-going. Extension of power, Restaurant, Water and Landscaping is also in progress.

There exist telephone facilities in the municipality. There are also a number of Hotel facilities in the municipality to accommodate tourist investors and other visitors. These include Ntiamoah Hotel, Rabbson Hotel, Ankumah Lodge, Madarina Hotel and other Guest Houses such as Morning Star, O’Right Guest House and Gyae M’Enka Guest House.

Ultra-modern Children Park with Tennis Court has been developed at the Government Residential Area. Pockets of Landscaping have been developed in all major towns in the municipality.

Ghana Tourist Development Board in collaboration with the Municipal Assembly and Traditional Authorities has developed a Business Plan towards the development of the “Big Tree” site. Plans are also underway to involve the private sector in the development of the site into a tourist site.