President Nana Akufu-Addo
President Akufo-Addo has called for stronger collaboration between the public-private sector in the Tourism, Arts, and Culture industry in order to make the country a destination choice for tourists.
Speaking at the maiden Presidential Summit on Tourism themed, “Rethinking Tourism for Economic Growth and Job Creation,” the President noted that since the launch of the Year of Return in 2019, the country’s tourism industry witnessed a transformative boost and fostered a cross-cultural understanding and social cohesion.
He emphasised that, “with the support of the public-private partnership, Ghana stands at a critical juncture in unlocking its tourism potentials. Let us seize this moment and embark on a collective endeavour to make Ghana a world-class tourist destination. This is an important ingredient for achieving sustainable development and prosperity for the country.”
He said his government has decided to make tourism a vanguard of national development.
He, therefore, outlined a four-fold approach which involves “Preservation, Promotion, Policy Leadership and Partnership” to make the tourism sector a driving force for national development.
President Akufo-Addo said the preservation plan, seeks to safeguard the natural reserves and strengthen the government’s commitment to environmental conservation, combating climate change, and promoting eco-friendly practices in the tourism industry.
The Promotion Plan strategy is to “amplify Ghana’s unique appeal on the global stage with a strategic marketing campaign, enhanced digital presence and targeted investment in infrastructure to achieve the goal”.
Under the Policy Leadership plan, he noted that the public sector must show its policy leadership by creating the right environment and platform for investment growth.
“It is, for this reason, the government is prioritising the visa regime, the homeland return Act and the visa on arrival processes,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo emphasised that, in the last few years, his government has enacted legislation on tourism sites and attractions through the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) to help develop other aspects of the tourist and cultural sectors.
On Partnership, the President indicated that the tourism sector requires partnerships and a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders in creating a comprehensive framework that facilitates dialogue, cooperation, and innovation.
“We all have to do our best in making sure that Ghana becomes the world destination for tourism. We can do this through collaboration with our stakeholders in the private sector,” he added.
World Bank Support
The World Bank has been one of the main partners of the Ministry for Tourism, Arts and Culture in its efforts to enhance tourist sites in the country.
President Akufo-Addo therefore commended highly the partnership between the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the country’s international partners, especially, the World Bank, leading to the revamping of a number of public and private tourist sites.
“The Country Director should see to the expansion of the support of the financial envelope, a development we will warmly appreciate as we do the current assistance,” President Akufo-Addo said.
On his part, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, said the tourism industry has started showing signs of recovery and growth after the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the sector.
He called on the sector players to support all the efforts of government aimed at making Ghana the tourism destination on the African continent.
“The first quarter of this year (2023) tourism numbers grew 47% from 170,000 last year at this time to 247,000 arrivals. If each tourist spends $3,000.00 dollars, you can imagine how much it is.
“Our ‘Destination Ghana’ project is on course and I want to assure all the stakeholders that we are not resting. We want you to give us (government) your support, partner us and we will make Ghana the choice for tourists,” Dr. Awal said.
“Ghana is now the most attractive tourism destination in West Africa. Just two years ago, it was Gambia and Senegal, today we are number one. It was projected that this achievement will be done in 2026, however, under your (President Akufo-Addo) leadership, today, Ghana is the most sought after place for tourists. We will continue to do our best,” he added.
The Chief Executive Officer, GTA, Akwasi Agyemang, in his speech, indicated that the government’s groundbreaking initiatives not only brought thousands of visitors to the country’s shores, but also ignited a renewed sense of pride and unity among the African diaspora.
“The Year of Return highlighted the immense economic opportunities that lie within our cultural heritage and paved the way for the Beyond the Return agenda,” he pointed out.
He appealed to the stakeholders, including the private sector, to invest in the tourism sector for economic growth and job creation.
“The road ahead is filled with immense opportunities and I urge all stakeholders to collaborate, share knowledge, and leverage our collective expertise to unlock the full potential of tourism in Ghana,” he said.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu & Prince Fiifi Yorke