Ghana is set to invest $25m in its tourism industry as part of its strategy to woo tourists into visiting Ghana. Through a global campaign dubbed ‘Destination Ghana’, the move seeks to upgrade Ghana’s tourist attraction sites and in turn attract one million tourists a year from Europe by 2024 as part of the recovery push for Ghana’s tourism sector.
Speaking in London during the launch of the ‘Destination Ghana’ drive, President Nana Akufo Addoh said his administration is on a mission to reposition and upgrade Ghana’s most historic tourist attractions.
“Ghana is not only gifted with a rich culture, but is also the best place for doing business in West Africa, as well as the safest and most stable country in the Region, with a governance system that rests on the separation of powers, with an independent Judiciary promoting accountability in public life, and that respects the rule of law, human rights and the principles of democratic accountability. Indeed, she has been for several years the recipient of the largest foreign direct investments in West Africa,” President Akufo-Addo said.
The Elmina and Cape Coast Castle, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the Mole and the Kakum Parks are part of the attraction sites that will be rehabilitated under the Ghana Tourism Development Project which is supported by the World Bank. Addoh also added that part of Ghana’s cultural centers will also receive an infrastructural boost.
According to Statista , tourism and travel contributed $1.9Bn to Ghana’s GDP in 2019 and 2020. This campaign ‘Destination Ghana’ comes at a time when the country just recently lifted all the COVID-19 restrictions and opened its sea and land borders in a bid to encourage a post Covid-19 economic recovery.
“I have made my contribution by lifting, a week ago, virtually all the COVID-19 restrictions, including the opening of all Ghana’s borders, to enhance movements in and out of Ghana, whilst still maintaining the hygiene protocols, like the wearing of face masks at indoor gatherings,” he indicated
