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Estimating the Economic Value of Health Walk on the Accra-Aburi Mountains Walkway in Ghana: An Individual Travel Cost Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Ophelia Amo

    (Department of Economics, University of Ghana)

  • Wisdom Akpalu

    (Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration)

  • Daniel K. Twerefou

    (Department of Economics, University of Ghana)

  • Godfred A. Bokpin

    (Department of Finance, University of Ghana Business School)

Abstract

The study evaluates the economic benefits that the Accra-Aburi Mountain walkway in Ghana provides to the health of hikers by employing the Individual Travel Cost Method (ITCM). The underlying principle was to specifically determine the economic value of the Mountain and what determine visits to the site. The tenet of the ITCM is that the travel costs borne by a hiker to get to a recreational centre rely on factors such as the costs of driving and the cost of time sacrificed to travel to the site. The findings reveal the total value that hikers place on the Accra-Aburi Mountain walkway was valued as GH13,654,693($3,034,376.22) in 2018 based on a yearly visitation rate of 145,340 hikers. The results from the generalised poison regression method indicate that travel cost, gender, average income, cardiovascular diseases, family history and blood pressure are the determinants of visitation to the mountain for health walk. We recommend to the government not to substitute the Accra-Aburi Mountains walkway for any other use since hikers valuation of the walkway is GH13,654,693($3,034,376.22) in 2018 which is quite high.

Suggested Citation

  • Ophelia Amo & Wisdom Akpalu & Daniel K. Twerefou & Godfred A. Bokpin, 2022. "Estimating the Economic Value of Health Walk on the Accra-Aburi Mountains Walkway in Ghana: An Individual Travel Cost Approach," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 9(1), pages 75-85, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bjc:journl:v:9:y:2022:i:1:p:75-85
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