Great, Wonderful, Creative and Innovative- these are a few words used to describe Ghana’s tourism industry by some
African Americans and disporians, as they depart the country. The returnees, who have been in the country for the past week for the Year of Return, say the experience has been amazing and promised to return soon.
Ever since the government of Ghana rolled down the red carpet for Africans in the diaspora to return home, the country has witnessed the arrival of many disporians. One of such returnees is a 5 member delegation from the Cornerstone Missionary Baptist church based in the United states.
While in the country, the team visited the Kwame Nkrumah Museum, W.EB. Du Bios center, Kakum national park, Cape Coast and Elmina castles among others.
The hosts; Christ Oasis Minsteries oragnised a durbar for the returnees to officially send them off after they had toured the country’s tourist sites of relevance to their visit. The Rankinking member of the foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was the special guest of honour for the occasion.
In an interaction with GBC’ s Nathaniel Nartey before leaving for the United states, Leader of the delegation from the US, Dr Stephen Howard was full of praise for Ghana’s tourism industry. He said.
“The creativity, ingenuity, entrepreneurship and the art that I saw was mind blowing. I think the (tourism) industry is on its way to greatness”. He added that
“This trip has enlightened me to know that even though there was a door of no return at the castle castles visited, we have returned but in a different manner.”
Sharing his thoughts on the Year of return in Ghana, he said “the experience has been wonderful, the heritage has been rich and I have experienced a level of honesty, hard working and friendly group of people since I have been here”.
He said his church will partner the Christ Oasis Minsteries in projects that will help alleviate poverty among Ghanaians.
Lead Pastor of the Christ Oasis Minsteries Rev. Elvis Eben-Baffour said the motivation behind the invitation was drawn from President Akufo-Addo’s call for Ghanaians to be ‘citizens and not spectators’
He described the Year of Return as a ‘great initiative from government and encouraged Africans in the diaspora to patonise it.”
Story by Nathaniel Nartey.
