The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), Hon. Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal said that in line with the Government’s quest to make the tourism sector the number one contributor of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025, funds have been made available through the World Bank Tourism Development Project to develop tourist attraction sites.
He added that to achieve this fate, the government with the support of the World Bank was spending 350 million cedis on product development from 2022 to 2023 to make tourism in Ghana competitive with other countries.
He stated that several tourist sites are undergoing rehabilitation works across the country. They include the Pikworo heritage and slave camp, Yaa Asantewaa Museum, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Cape Coast and Elmina castles, kokum park, Shai hills, Mole Park, and Du Bois centre.
Dr Awal stated that whereas the sector recorded 534,711 domestic visitations between January to September 2022, international arrivals within the same period were 645,047.
Dr Awal also indicated that Ghana has become a tourism destination for the Christmas season given that, 50 events have been approved and would be organised during the period and which include AfroNation, Afrochella, Akwaaba UK, BHIM concert, Joyful ways, a taste of Ghana and Rhythms on the way.
The Minister, therefore, outlined seven key initiatives that have been developed to improve the sector, including capacity building and customer care, domestic tourism, international tourism drive, December in GH, product development, destination Ghana and development and review of policies.
The Minister was accompanied by Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Mark Okraku-Mantey, the Chief Director, Heads of Agencies and Directors of the ministry.
Source: MoTAC PR