By Nana Kofi Hammah
As part of efforts by the Tourism Ministry to make Ghana a tourism hub, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and the Office of the New York Mayor, have begun collaborations with joint strategies to drive the vision into fruition.
Speaking at the Global Citizens Prize and Summit, which is held to recognize the contributions of remarkable change-makers working towards ending extreme poverty in their respective communities and also fostering social change across the Globe, the Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, expressed his readiness to help increase the number of tourists from New York, in particular, and the US in general, to Ghana to enhance international tourism.
New York is noted as the wealthiest and most populous city in America. It is also the commercial and financial capital of the US. Mr. Adams said.
“I have been to Ghana and I enjoyed my stay in that beautiful country. Ghana is a peaceful country with a globally respected President”.
He further touted that, the launch of “The Year of Return” and the subsequent “Beyond the Return” project by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was a clear indication of Ghana’s commitment to rally the Black race and unite them with their motherland. Dr Awal the sector minister said “the US was the biggest source of international arrivals in Ghana, accounting for about 30 per cent of all tourist arrivals over the years.
He said the Ministry’s goal was to attract two million international tourists to the country annually from 2024, adding that support from the Mayor would help achieve the desired objective.
The Minister also said “the country had a rich and diverse culture, as well as over 30 forts and castles, making Ghana an attractive tourism destination”.
He noted that tourism was not only a source of leisure but also an avenue for the promotion of trade and investment.
Mr. Awal however congratulated Mr. Adams on being the second Black Mayor of New York.
Ghana is a place of rich culture, heritage, and great hospitality, as the President of Ghana has recently urged travelers across the world to choose Ghana because the interest in nature-based adventure and leisure tourism has grown, offering new opportunities to visitors. Hence destination Ghana has been launched to whip up the world’s interest.
