“Improving upon the zoo is a process. We are putting in place every measure to ensure, that the zoo becomes not only a tourist attraction centre, but also a place of education on nature and the need for natural conservation.

 Mr Tamanja said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the Accra zoo, which is now located in the Achimota forest.

 Some years ago, if one lived in or close to Accra and wanted to see a live lion, leopard, elephant, crocodile, python, cape buffalo amongst several others, a visit to the zoo was all it took.

In those days, one could describe the Accra zoo as an animal lover’s haven.

Several exotic animals that could only be see on television documentaries could easily be seen in the zoo.

Thus, apart from serving as a key source of tourist attraction and revenue generation, the Accra zoo also provided an avenue for lovers of nature to experience and fulfil their desires, and appreciate creation through a means as vivid as possible.

It was amazing to watch a lion for real with that amazing mane around his neck, and to see crocodile rush for meet during feeding time, not on television, but in a real life situation.

Weekends and holidays especially saw the zoo getting filled with visitors, both local and foreign, and people, especially children, enrich their appreciation for nature which is key to environmental protection, health preservation, and even socio-economic development.

Currently, the Accra zoo still holds a number of animals that would definitely thrill any animal lover, but compared to what used to be some years back, a lot could be done to improve upon the zoo, to make it even more impressive than it once was.

A visit by the Ghana News Agency to the Accra zoo which is now located in the Achimota forest, uncovered that exotic animals such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyena and cape buffalo, which were once the toast of the Accra zoo, could no longer be found there.

The look of the zoo is also not as impressive as it was years back, with a number of the cages being wooden.

Animals such as a camel, two young Nile crocodile, the spotted hyena, a number of wild herbivore species, bird species including ostriches and parrots, tortoises, rabbits, and a few others could be seen.

The basic impression of the zoo, however, is not as good as the once gated zoo which had a decent compound and housed animals that were kept in well secured enclosures that were made of safe material such as metal and concrete.

Back in the days, the zoo also had places of relaxation for patrons, where one could go easy with some snacks, after feeding their eyes.

Currently, whilst the cages are mostly wooden, the Accra zoo does not give the impression of a place of recreation, where visitors are supposed to potentially spend the entire day, enjoying Mother Nature.

Compared to the one time Accra zoo, which was located in Kanda, the current zoo gives the impression of an unfinished project.

In 2006, the Accra zoo, which was then located in Kanda within the Greater Accra region, was closed down for the construction of the then new Presidential complex, which was formerly known as the Flagstaff House.

This saw the animals at the Accra zoo being re-housed in the Kumasi zoo, but with their relocation at their new site in the Achimota forest, exotic animals such as the lion and leopard have been left out.

Although the assurance was given then, the Accra zoo would be rebuilt into a modern one to thrill the public one more time, which has not been realised well after ten years of the zoo’s relocation.

Mr. Tamanja, however said the zoo had an appreciable level of visitor throughput, adding that these visitors typically left the zoo quite happy and thrilled.

Mr. Tamanja said plans were afoot to improve the current facility into a modern zoo, which would not only entertain people who want to see live wild animals but also, provide these animals with a natural habitat where they could experience the same freedom and life they did in the wild.

He said the preservation of endangered species was also at the core of the vision.

The Accra Zoo manager said whilst authorities in charge of the zoo were putting in plans to improve upon the facility, “we welcome individuals or organisations who may be interested in assisting in any way, towards improving upon the zoo.”

The Accra zoo, which was initially a private recreational facility for Ghana’s founding President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was opened to the public, after Dr. Nkrumah was overthrown in a coup in 1966.

With wild animals being a source of great fascination for many, facilities that keep such animals for recreational purposes such as zoos and parks, are some of the most successful tourist attraction centres all over the world. 

Visitors for example, travel from all over the world, to visit places such as the Kruger National Park, in South Africa to celebrate nature, typically through the observation of live wild animals, which could otherwise be only seen in pictures and television documentaries.