Ghana launches GHS 100m tourism project to transform sector
In a bold move aimed at reinvigorating the tourism industry, Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mohammed Awal, has unveiled a groundbreaking project designed to harness the creative prowess of the nation’s youth. Addressing a select gathering at the Accra City Hotel on Monday, August 14, 2023, Awal announced a pioneering initiative that seeks to galvanize the interest of young minds towards tourism and beckon forth innovative business models within the sector.
The forthcoming venture, a 100-million-cedi tourism enterprise project, is set to roll out next year, and it is poised to be a catalyst for fresh, sustainable tourism concepts from the younger generation. Awal, during his discourse, underscored the importance of nurturing youthful talent and channeling their creativity into transformative projects for the industry’s growth.
As part of this comprehensive strategy, Awal divulged that his ministry has committed to the training of a significant workforce—6,000 young individuals to be exact—across various segments of the tourism value chain. From cooks to security personnel and tour guides, this ambitious training endeavor aims to address a prevailing issue: customer care. Awal candidly remarked that even venerable sites like the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park lacked a consistent orientation toward visitors, highlighting the dire need for enhanced hospitality standards.
Awal emphasized that the crux of the nation’s tourism aspirations rests on cultivating repeat visits. To this end, his team is laboring to captivate tourists’ attention, motivating them to frequent the country on a more consistent basis. Presently, Ghana attracts visitors who stay an average of seven days; however, the government’s aspiration is to extend this duration to a minimum of ten days.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), led by CEO Akwasi Agyeman, echoed the minister’s sentiments and expanded on the ministry’s accomplishments. Agyeman hailed the successful execution of the Ghana Tourism Development Project, which marked a pioneering collaboration with the World Bank. This venture yielded dividends across multiple fronts: product development, marketing, skills enhancement, and entrepreneurial support within the industry.
Looking forward, Agyeman shed light on forthcoming projects, including the immersive slave routes experience and the development of vibrant crab villages. To invigorate the nightlife scene in Accra, Agyeman unveiled a series of interventions—Kwame Nkrumah Park, Nationalism Park, and the Geese Park—which are poised to create a dynamic after-dark landscape.
The famed Beyond the Return initiative continues to bolster Ghana’s tourism prospects, leveraging its December in GH activities to draw a steady stream of tourists each year. In its unwavering pursuit to ascend to the pinnacle of African tourism, the Ghanaian government has set its sights on a formidable goal: to welcome two million international visitors by 2025, consequently stimulating a colossal $4 billion in economic activity.
In an industry marred by challenges, Ghana’s resolute commitment to rejuvenating its tourism sector demonstrates not only a strategic vision but also a steadfast determination to propel the nation onto the global tourism stage. As the nation embarks on this transformative journey, eyes are on Accra to ascertain whether these aspirations will crystallize into a thriving reality.
