VOLTA REGION, Sept 26 (The African Portal) – As part of this year’s World Tourism Day activities, Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has toured key heritage and ecological sites in the Volta Region of the country to promote sustainable tourism and highlight the area’s untapped potential.
The tour, held a day before the national celebration on September 27, focused on encouraging investment in the region’s tourism assets and aligning development efforts with the country’s emerging Blue Economy strategy.
“If we want to tap into the Blue Economy as Ghanaians, we must start by paying attention to our coastline,” the Minister said, referencing a recent workshop held with the Ministry of Fisheries and AcquaCulture Development and Allied Agencies.
Improvement road infrastructure
Gomashie stressed the need for urgent improvement of road infrastructure leading to tourist sites, calling it a major barrier to both domestic and international tourism.
“What we lack is infrastructure support. Road access to our sites must be improved. It makes promotion easier and encourages return visits,” she emphasized.
She further called on private investors to partner with the Ministry, noting that the President has approved the release of 80% of common fund to local assemblies, and urged the assemblies to help use some of the fund to develop and promote tourism infrastructure in their districts.
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The Minister also emphasized the importance of engaging young people in tourism development. “We want students and the youth to experience these sites firsthand, learn about our history, and develop a passion for traveling and exploration,” she noted.
Torgbui Sape Agbo V, the Avaklasuga of the area, expressed his gratitude to the visiting group for coming in their numbers to the Region.
He noted that land had already been allocated to an investor nearby for the development of hotel facilities to accommodate future visitors.
He further announced the community’s openness to investment and extended a call to other well-meaning investors to consider bringing development initiatives to the area.
Fort Prinzenstein in Keta
The tour included visits to Fort Prinzenstein in Keta, the Avu Lagoon in the South Tongu District, where staff had a boat ride on the lagoon and also an insight into the production of alcohol made from sugarcane extracts.
The visit also took participants to the Hedranawo Slavery Museum in Ketu South District, sites that are central to Ghana’s historical and eco-tourism landscape.
Students from Keta Senior High School and Some Senior High School participated in the tour, which they described as educational and enlightening.
“This is not just about the forts and dungeons; we are also walking to the beach and the actual slave market site to help these students understand the full context of what happened,” the Minister explained.
Also present were Yussif Issaka Jajah, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, as well as directors and agency heads under the Ministry, who joined in the tour activity preceding the World Tourism Day celebration in Ghana, which is celebrated across the world to highlight the potential of the sector and its prospects.
The writer of this article works with the PR Unit of Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA)
