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President To Launch Domestic And Regional Tourism Campaign To Stimulate The Tourism Industry
PRESS RELEASE
ACCRA: 31ST MAY, 2021
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) and other tourism industry players will launch a Domestic and Regional Tourism Campaign on Tuesday, 1st June, 2021 at the Labadi Beach Hotel.
The campaign which is designed to accelerate the pace of tourism recovery through a renewed focus on domestic and regional markets will be launched by H.E. Nana Akufo Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana. It will create awareness, boost domestic tourism expenditure and revive culture of travel among Ghanaians. Key industry players including the Tourism Trade Associations, Media, Diplomats, Parliamentarians and several other public figures will be in attendance. The event will be streamed LIVE on the Ghana Tourism Authority Facebook page (@ghanatourismauthority).
The campaign is themed: #EXPERIENCEGHANA #SHAREGHANA.
As part of the campaign, industry stakeholders are offering discounted packages including tours, accommodation, transportation and mouth-watering prizes to enable the public experience all that Ghana has to offer in terms of tourism. Some of the activities earmarked include:
- Travel Share and Win Campaign where people are expected to travel to anywhere in Ghana and share their photos and videos on social media to get a chance to win prizes. Other activities include:
- Discover, Write and Win
- PANAFEST/Emancipation
- Taste of Ghana (Gastronomy Fair)
- Meet In Ghana Travel Show
- See Ghana on STC and VIP coaches
- December-In-Gh.
The campaign is expected to run for the next 18 months.
Ghana Tourism Authority
Dodi World & Volta Hotel Keen To Promote Domestic Tourism
The General Manager of Dodi World and the Volta Hotel has intimated on the need to strengthen domestic tourism drive in Ghana.
Speaking in an interview after discussion with the Digital Marketing team from the Ghana Tourism Authority, he disclosed that stakeholders have learnt a lot of lessons from the Covid 19 Pandemic, hence “it is imperative to boost domestic tourism especially in this hard times when the whole world is faced with Covid 19 Pandemic”.
“The need to grow domestic tourism requires that citizens and stakeholders develop a keen interest in patronizing our tourists sites. Ghana is endowed with some of the most incredible sites in the world, and Dodi princess is one of best tourist attraction in Ghana.” He opined.
He further stated that, Dodi World together with Volta Hotel is working on a marketing drive which is geared towards the promotion of domestic tourism, as well as meeting international standard.
Mr. Ayitey encouraged Ghanaians to cruise with Dodi Princess II often on the lake since it has a therapeutic effect on revelers.
About Dodi
Dodi Princess at Akosombo, Lake Volta is home to MV Dodi Princess – An extension of the Volta Hotel. The newly-built 176-capacity cruise boat, the Dodi Princess II replaced its predecessor.
The three-deck Dodi Princess II, though half the capacity of Dodi Princess I (350), has all the intimate details of the latter, with a modern appeal presented by its nicely-set-out bar on the middle deck. The wooden-floor upper-deck with a beautiful view of the lake is dedicated for live band music entertain guests on-board.
Ghana’s Tourism Arrivals To Receive Boost With Arrival of United Airlines
This follows the re-launch of passenger flight operations from Washington to Accra by United Airlines. Its Dreamline 787 landed at the Kotoka International Airport on Saturday, May 15, 2021.
The U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie S. Sullivan said the start of the United Airlines service will also promote trade relations the two countries.
United Airlines, which is the 3rd largest airline in the world as measured by fleet size and number of routes, will compete with Delta on the Accra- New York JFK route.
Aviance, which has also been chosen as the ground handler for United Airlines, says it is very delighted to service the airline.
Mark Kamis, Managing Director of Aviance told AviationGhana that “we were very lucky that we have been handed the ground handling for United. We had the business back in 2015 when United was first here. So for Aviance we are very excited to be handling them again.”
The landing of the Dreamline 787 was welcomed by the US Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie S. Sullivan, the Minister of Transport, MD of the Ghana Airport Company, CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority who could not hide his joy as he exhibited his Adowa dance skills at the tarmac.
CEO of GTA @akwasizurich shows his Adowa dance skills as officials in the Tourism and Aviation Industry welcome @united‘s relaunch with 3x weekly flights from Washington to Accra.#VisitGhanaNow #ghana #us #unitedairlines #africa #discoverghana #saturday #saturdaymotivation pic.twitter.com/jlUz308xA2
— Ghana Tourism Authority (@ghanatourismGTA) May 15, 2021
3 films on Heritage and Culture in Ghana launched by French Embassy
The Embassy of France in Ghana have officially premiered the airing of 3 animation films that were produced under the framework of the Sankofa support Project to higher education and research in Heritage and Tourism in Ghana.
These animation films encourage the promotion and dissemination of research findings on Ghanaian heritage to the general public. The film launch was made online through a webinar and live on social media. The short animation films were written and created by Ghanaian archaeology and heritage researchers in collaboration with Ghanaian animation film studios and a French animated series.
The 3 films that were shown and presented were:
1. Salvage Archaeology
Salvage Archaeology, 60 sec, by Edward Nyarko (University of Ghana Researcher – Script) and Indigene X (Ghanaian Animation Studio – Production) Information and awareness-raising spot about the importance of preserving Ghanaian heritage and archaeological artefacts. Available in English, Fanti, Ewe, Hausa & Ga languages.
2. Fort Amsterdam
Fort Amsterdam, 5 min, by Kojo Derban (Architect and University of Ghana Researcher – Script) and Animax FYB (Ghanaian Animation Studio – Production) The construction of a European Fort, Fort Amsterdam, on the Gold Coast (Ghana), in the 17th Century, from an architect’s perspective. Available in English, French, Fanti, Ewe, Hausa & Ga languages. Fort Amsterdam is one of the 28 Forts and Castles registered in Ghana as a World Heritage site under the UNESCO 1972 Convention for their Outstanding Universal Value. According to UNESCO: « The Castles and Forts of Ghana shaped not only Ghana’s history but that of the world over four centuries as the focus of first the gold trade and then the slave trade. They are a significant and emotive symbol of European-African encounters and of the starting point of the African Diaspora.
3. Begho a market town in 16th century West Africa
Begho a market town in 16th century West Africa: Begho, a market town in 16th century, West Africa, 7 min, by Daniel Kumah and Victoria Aryee (University of Ghana Researchers – Script) and Past and Curious (French animated series on archeology – Production) and Animax FYB (Ghanaian Animation Studio – Productions). A discovery of the Begho market, in West Africa, in the 16th century, through the eyes of a little girl named Kasi. Begho is a former market city, at the crossroads of several trade routes, which was occupied between the 11th and 18th centuries. As such, it is mentioned and documented in many early writings about West Africa and pre-colonial Ghana and oral tradition. Available in English, French, Asanti Twi, Ewe, Dagbani & Ga.
The creators of the films briefly explained their ideas and mindset behind the movies whilst the animation studios also gave insights into what the production of the films entailed. They were thankful to all stakeholders who played a part in the making of the films and also expressed their joy in sharing with Ghanaians and the world at large, stories that lie within Ghana’s heritage and culture.
The films were translated into 8 languages (English, French, Asante Twi, Fante Twi, Ewe, Ga, Dagbani, Hausa) to be easily accessible to a Ghanaian audience. The films will be uploaded onto main video platforms and social media and interested parties can have access to these educative films for free.
IndigenX and AnimaxFYB, the two Ghanaian studio who produced the films, were the first Ghanaian studios to be selected in Annecy’s animation film festival competition, the biggest animation film festival in the world, hosted every year in Annecy, France, respectively in 2019 and 2021.
This films were made possible with the financial support of the Embassy of France in Ghana through the Sankofa support project to higher education and research in heritage and tourism.
In attendance of the film launch was the Ambassador of France to Ghana H.E. Ms. Anne Sophie Avé, the Director of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board Mr. Ivor Agyeman–Duah, the Representative of UNESCO Ghana Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo, partners of the Sankofa project and other high-profile stakeholders from around the world.
Watch the three animations in multiple languages by clicking on the links below to access the playlists:
- Fort Amsterdam Playlist (English, French, Fanti, Ewe, Hausa & Ga languages)
- Salvage Archaelogy Playlist (English, Fanti, Ewe, Hausa & Ga languages)
- Begho, a Market Town in 16th Century Playlist (English, French, Asanti Twi, Ewe, Dagbani & Ga languages)
Source: French Embassy Ghana
Ministry of Finance signs compact agreements for post Covid-19 transformation with Tourism and Trade Ministries under the Ghana CARES Obaatanpa programme
Ministry of Finance signs two compact agreements for post Covid-19 transformation with Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Trade & Industry under the Ghana CARES Obaatanpa programme.
On Tuesday, 11th May 2021, the Ministry of Finance, as part of modalities to kick-start the implementation of the Ghana Covid-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support (GhanaCARES) Obaatanpa programme signed the first two out of 8 compact agreements with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for an amount of One Hundred million Ghana cedis (Ghs100,000,000.00) and the Ministry of Trade & Industry for an amount of Two Hundred and Eighty Two million Ghana cedis (Ghs282,000,000).
These is extra allocations fall outside of the two Ministries annual budgetary allocation to ensure strategic and catalytic interventions that will foster a quicker recovery and boost our post COVID-19 economic transformation.
The Compact is a partnership agreement between the Ministry of Finance, as the Coordinating authority, and sector Ministries, under the supervision of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) to ensure effective and timely delivery of the targets set for the various Ministries under the CARES programme for the 2021 fiscal year.
About Ghana Government COVID Support
Two key initiatives that government has put in place to provide relief to local businesses are the CAP-Buss and the Ghana CARES Obaatan Pa Programme.
The government established the GHS100billion Covid-19 Alleviation and Revitalization of Enterprises Support (CARES) programme to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the lives and livelihoods of Ghanaians, and to ensure that Ghanaians quickly emerge from the pandemic with a stronger and more resilient economy.
CAP-BuSS INITIATIVE
The Corona Virus Alleviation Programme – Business Support Scheme (CAP-BuSS) of GH¢600.0 million is to specifically support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and was launched by H. E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on 19th May, 2020. The Scheme is part of the GH¢1.2 billion CAP approved by Parliament to address the disruption to economic activities due to the pandemic. Under the Scheme, Government, through the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), and in collaboration with the business and trade associations and selected commercial and rural banks, rolled out a soft loan scheme with a one-year moratorium and two-year repayment period for MSMEs. The objectives of the Scheme are to provide emergency relief fund for MSMEs and entrepreneurs in Ghana, establish a comprehensive and financially sustainable emergency relief fund package for MSMEs, and provide them with technical assistance to ameliorate the impact of COVID-19.and provide them with technical assistance to ameliorate the impact of COVID-19.
FUNDING FOR COVID19 RELIEF EFFORTS
Before the first case of COVID-19 in Ghana was confirmed on 12th March, 2020, Government had proactively put together the GH¢560 million National Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP) for COVID-19 to manage and contain the spread of the virus and strengthen the national capacity for surveillance, diagnosis, and case management.
New Book to By Adinkra Group To Make Return Journey to Africa Easier
Diallo Sumbry is the CEO of The Adinkra Group and his book, ‘A Smart Ghana Repatriation Guide’ will be released this month on May 19, 2021. The book promises to give an in-depth look on what it’s really like to move to Ghana. It’s a candid look at the ups and downs as well as the opportunities for success in the country. He leaves no stone unturned in the book which includes contributions from others who have also repatriated to Ghana.
Sumbry first stepped on the continent of Africa in 1988. His first trip was to Senegal and he hasn’t looked back since. His journey to discovering and exploring more of the continent has also taken him to Mali, Morocco, Guinea, the Gambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Ghana. He’s been doing this long before the ‘Year of Return’ in 2019 when thousands of people of African descent made the trip to Ghana. Sumbry played a key role in the ‘Year of Return’ campaign that marked the 400-year anniversary of the first documented ship of enslaved Africans to arrive in Virginia, USA.
His company, the Adinkra Group, has been responsible for bringing people of African descent to Ghana through what he calls, the ‘Birthright Journey’. He creates curated cultural experiences that are meant for people who have been yearning to make that trip to the motherland.
He has spent several years in Ghana giving back to communities, working on business projects and getting to know the landscape of the country at the ground level. ‘A Smart Ghana Repatriation Guide’ is an honest blend of personal experiences, lessons, and practical tips that provide a timely contribution to the “Back to Africa” renaissance sparked by the Year of Return and now with its decade-long Beyond the Return campaign.
Sumbry says that his book offers a virtual experience as you read each chapter and use the scannable QR codes that are embedded in the text of the book. He wanted to do this so that the book can come to life in a new and inspiring way.
The book will be released officially on May 19.
Click here to purchase a copy of the book
Visit the website www.theadinkragroup.com to purchase or more info.
Domestic Tourism Promotion – Kaya Tours Give Ghanaians Memorable Keta Experience
Kaya Tours Ghana over the May Day weekend holiday embarked on another Experiential two (2 ) days trip to Keta , in the Volta Region.
Patrons were drawn from Kumasi and Accra totaling 25 persons for the getaway experience.
Since every good domestic tourism product must be sustainable and beneficial to the host community, kaya Tours ensured the engagement of local indigenous people in the service delivery.
On the first night of the stay , about 30 boborbor cultural troup displayed a two hours performance amidst folktales by an elderly man who narrated the history and the emergence of Anlo and Ewe people in present day Anloga , Keta , Agbozume etc along the beach with bonfire.
It was very refreshing as the patrons were treated on local cocktail drinks and treats such as Asana , Sobolo , Lamugin , aduule, nkate cake etc.
The night experience along the white sandy clean beach of Keta betwixt with massage was enchanting.
On the second day , the revellers woke up to aerobics and beach games before breakfast.
There are forty eight forts and castles in Africa with forty four dotted along the coastline of Ghana. The group visited Fort Prinzenstein built by Danish traders in 1784 for defensive purposes after the Sagbadre War against the Anlo Ewe and to keep the area safe from other colonial powers.
This is a place filled with the Black Africa Slave trade way back and still holds historical background and monuments as well.
Keta has lots of awesome tourist attractions including the Woe lighthouse also known as Cape St. Paul Lighthouseon the beach that guides sailors.
The group enjoyed the fabulous views from reportedly the oldest lighthouse in the country making climbing it an interesting if somewhat daunting adventure.
Speaking to the media Mr. Abeiku Aggrey Santana entreated Traditional Authorities , Government and Private stakeholders in tourism to come together and work for the interest of our country.
He lamented that , Tourism is Private sector driven and as a result government must support tourism players with incentives to promote domestic tourism.
President Akufo Addo To Break Ground For Pan African Heritage World Museum
Accra. April 30, 2021
The groundbreaking ceremony to commence the construction of the $30million Pan African Heritage
World Museum will be performed at the project site, Pomadze Hills, near Winneba Junction, on
Wednesday May 5, 2021.
The project, which was globally launched in September 2020 by the President of the Republic of Ghana
Nana Addo Dankwa, seeks to create the environment in its 10 acre space to communicate the true and
authentic history, arts, culture and ideals of the pan African world from the creation of mankind to the
present day. Apart from the main building housing the six-storey galleries of collections and artifacts,
there will be a two-acre Pan African Heroes Park, a two-acre Palace of African Kingdoms, ancient and
modern, and a three-acre Herbal Plant Village where lectures about Herbal Plants in Africa will be held.
There will also be space for Festivals, Concerts, Film Shows and Exhibitions from the wide pan African
world. The Pan African Library building will bring together young innovators and inventors from across
the world to exchange works on science and technology to solve future problems.
Registered as an International NGO in Ghana, USA, and the United Kingdom, the Pan African Heritage
World is governed by an International Board of Directors, an Academic Council, a Curatorial Board, and
an Executive Council.
Brainchild of Kojo Yankah, past president of PANAFEST and founder of the African University College of
Communications, the Pan African Heritage World Museum project is scheduled to be completed for
commissioning in July 2023. Funding will be mainly through donations.
The Museum complex is envisaged to be the biggest pan African heritage museum in Africa. It will have
chalets and residential accommodation for lodging and conferences.
The May 5 sod-cutting event will be performed by the President of Ghana, assisted by the Minister of
Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Mohamed Awai. Among the special guests invited are Members of the
Diplomatic Corps, Heads of corporate organizations in Africa, Prospective donors and educational
institutions. It will be chaired by Nana Prah Agyensaim, Paramount Chief of Assin Owirenkyi.
Says the founder Kojo Yankah, ‘the time has come for people of African descent to tell their own story
to shape their future’.
The programme will streamed live through PAHW website (www.pahw.org). Youtube, Facebook, as
well as through AAU (www.aau.org) Youtube and Twitter.
Source: PAHW
Mole Park Goes High-tech With Tech Support From Australian Aid
Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Gregory Andrews has handed over field equipment to the Mole National Park in the Savannah Region which is Ghana’s first, largest and most prestigious protected area.
The equipment donated through Australian Aid included high powered capacity long-range drone, 20 GPS equipment, 30 camera traps, two desktop computers with rechargeable batteries, a photocopier machine, books and some personal protective equipment.
The High Commissioner also cut the sod for the construction of two Summer huts at the forecourt of the information center which will fully be funded by him.
The support to the Park and the Rangers especially, has come as no surprise as the High Commissioner during his visit to the Park in October last year promised to return after showing appreciation to the work by the Rangers which he described as dangerous.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony of the equipment, Mr Andrews said, the equipment would help the work of the park to go on smoothly and very effectively.
He said it would be easy to get videos and pictures of the animals and also help in trapping poaching activities in the park.
He added that, the GPS equipment would also help the rangers find their way anytime they get lost in the reserve.
The High Commissioner commended the staff and workers of the Park for their hard work, expressing the hope to see much improvement in their work following the donation of the equipment.
The Manager of the Mole National Park, Mr Ali Mahama, expressed his satisfaction for the kind gesture done by the Australian High Commission which he said is a sign of good relationship between the Government of Ghana and that of Australia.
He described the donation as very timely to deal with the poaching activities in the Park.
The Executive Director of the Wildlife Division, Ghana, Mr Bernard Asamoah Boateng in his address said, Ghana has seven national parks, six resource reserves, two sanctuaries etc which are under the care of the wildlife division with the Mole National Park being the premier and largest after its establishment in 1958 and gazzeted as a national park in 1971 with a size of 4,840km square and is in a process of being listed as UNESCO Global World Heritage Site.
He said the Park has tried to protect its integrity through the support of donor agencies which has been successful and therefore used the opportunity to thank the High Commissioner and the people of Australia for their support.
Mr John Allotey, the Chief Executive Officer for the Forestry Commission who also addressed the gathering during the handing over ceremony said, everything with wildlife in Ghana takes place in the Mole National Park since everything is referred there when it has to do with Wildlife.
He said, due to Covid-19 pandemic, the number of tourists in the Park has gone down and appealed to donor agencies to help brand the Park to increase the number of visiting tourists.
He thanked the High Commissioner for his support and also used the opportunity to appeal to him to strengthen the relationship between Australia and Ghana through the development of a sister city relationship that is focused on ecotourism.
He added that, the equipment received would go a long way to help, especially in data collection and also in getting more information with the nocturnal species in the Park.
Savannah Regional Minister, Mr Saeed Jibril Muhazu was also happy with the support.
He said, the importance of the Park can never be underrated since apart from tourism, it also serves as a source of employment in the region.
He also used the opportunity to appeal for more support from donor agencies especially in the area of housing for the rangers and assured of government full support in the development of the park.
High-tech remote cameras already making impact?
Mr Andrews yesterday tweeted to indicate the discovery of a new animal in the Park, which was made possible by high-tech remote cameras supplied through Australian Aid to the Mole National Park.
Thank you @AusAmbGHA! your donated #cameratraps towards #wildlife and #biodiversity #conservation has start yielding @MolePark some interesting #footage of our #wildlife #species. Here is a beautiful capture of the Side-striped #jackal. More #species soon! pic.twitter.com/AK8NRrAMiX
— Samuel Wini (@Wini_Samuel) April 16, 2021
He said in his tweet “This is exciting! Look closely. Rangers at @MolePark are already finding new animals with the high-tech remote cameras supplied from Australia. This morning they sent me this photo of what appears to be an albino Duiker. But it could also be a new species. Science will tell”.
Source: ghanaenvironment.org
GTA Hold Consultative Workshop On Domestic Tourism With Stakeholders
The Ghana Tourism Authority has held a Stakeholders Consultative meeting with Stakeholders in the Tourism Industry at the Hill View Hotel, Teiman in Abokobi on 13th and 14th April, 2021.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Executive Ofiicer of the Authority, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations, Mr. Ekow Sampson, President of the Ghana Hoteliers Association, Dr. Edward Ackah-Nyameke, President of Tour Operators Union of Ghana, (TUOGHA) Madam Alisa Osei Asamoah, CEO of Apstar Tours and former TOUGHA President, Madam Stella Apenteng, CEO of Exotic Adventures and Advisor to TORGAG, Mr. Kwaku Pasah, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF)Mr. Emmanuel Frimpong and President of Car Rentals Association of Ghana, Mr. Seth Ocran.The rest are Mr. Ahmed Naaman CEO of Dodi Travel and Tours, Mr. Kwame Ansong, CEO of Sunseekers and Sun Lodge Hotel, some Management Staff of GTA and other Seasoned Tourism Practitioners.
The task of the group was to develop a Domestic and Sub Regional Tourism Strategy aimed at Promoting Domestic Tourism, which is one of the visions of the Sector Minister, Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, aimed at increasing domestic tourism arrivals. In other to achieve these, the group were tasked to achieve the following targets between the year 2021-2022. Domestic Tourism Arrivals- 600,000. Sub Regional Tourism Arrivals Ecowas)- 250,000. Beyond the Return- 700,000
The above will serve as Key Performance Indicator(KPI) to help spearhead this agenda.
The Trade Associations under GHATOF assured GTA of their unflinching support to move domestic tourism forward.
In his closing remarks, the CEO of GTA, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman said domestic tourism is the way forward. He urged all and sundry to put all hands on deck in order to bring this initiative to fruition.
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