COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE IMPACTS OF ECOTOURISM ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES; CASE STUDY OF MOLE NATIONAL PARK, GHANA AND KAINJI LAKE NATIONAL PARK, NIGERIA

This study assessed the positive and negative impacts of ecotourism on the livelihood of adjacent communities of Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria and Mole National Park, Ghana. Well-structured questionnaire directed at 582 community residents around the national parks was used for this study and data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Findings show that communities’ perception of impact of the ecotourism development was positive with the most positive impact at both Parks being increase in conservation of Park biodiversity. The most negative impact of ecotourism development at Kainji communities was the increase in destruction caused by wildlife to crops and livestock, while at Mole communities the most negative impact was reduced land for farming. Paired sample test results shows that there is significant difference in the negative impacts of both Parks and there is significant difference between the positive impacts at the two National Parks, (P<0.05). This study concludes that majority of local residents at both Parks perceived that the impact of the Parks has been positive.