Domestic Tourism Promotion – Kaya Tours Give Ghanaians Memorable Keta Experience

Posted By : Collins/ 1095

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.

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President Akufo Addo To Break Ground For Pan African Heritage World Museum

Posted By : Collins/ 1261

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

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Mole Park Goes High-tech With Tech Support From Australian Aid

Posted By : Collins/ 535

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.

The new animal discovered through the high-tech remote cameras donated to 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.

 

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

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GTA Hold Consultative Workshop On Domestic Tourism With Stakeholders

Posted By : Collins/ 625

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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Tourism In Volta and Oti Regions To Receive Renewed Boost With Operationalisation of Ho Airport

Posted By : Collins/ 1384

Tourism in the Volta and Oti regions is expected to get a renewed boost as the Ho receives the test flight that will usher in the operations of commercial flight on the Accra-Ho-Accra route in the coming months. This is expected to open up the hugely unexploited tourism potential of the two regions to help promote both domestic and international tourism to help achieve the Tourism ministry’s revenue target.

 

Tourist are expected to enjoy a 15-17 minutes travel time between the two destinations cutting travel time via road by about 1 hour and 40 minutes. This is expected to allow tourist to leave visitors to the region with Ghana’s most attractive natural tourist spots.

On Thursday April 15, 2021 a successful flight testing exercise of the facility on was conducted at the Ho Airport. The Chief Operation Officer of the African World Airline (AWA), Captain Kwesi Oteng, successfully landed an Embrarer 145 aircraft which had 36 passengers onboard.

Captain Oteng informed the press that, there was no hiccup during the flight and that conditions were good. He added that AWA was planning to operate two or three times a week from Ho to Accra. He further hinted that, if the patronage of the Ho-Accra commercial flight went well, they would consider beginning connecting flights to other regions as well which would help boost domestic tourism in the country.

The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State and Executive Chairman Of the African World Airline, Togbe Afede XIV believes the airport would not only accelerate economic growth and tourism but would be instrumental in emergency operations by state agencies. He recounted how the airport had helped deploy security personnel as well as transport accident victims to receive needed medical care.

He commended government and its agencies, Ghana Airport Company (GACL) and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for the support and hinted of plans to establish an Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) in Ho for basic maintenance services as well as a pilot training school in Ho.

On his part, the Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Mr. Yaw Kwakwa expressed his appreciation for the enthusiasm of residents towards the airport and announced that Passion Air has expressed interest in flying to Ho saying “We are grateful for the enthusiasm that the city has shown us. This is what we are looking for” he said.

Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa lauded stakeholders on their respective roles in operationalising the facility and urged residents to patronize the airport.

The obviously elated Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Alexander Nketia said “discussion are ongoing between stakeholders to offer special packages for tourist to the region”. He said the packages will include great hotel, transport and site visit bargains tom make the region the destination of choice.

By: CA/GTA Digital

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Beyond The Return: Chappelle Inspired By Stevie Wonder to visit Ghana

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In a recent interview on Supermodel Naomi Campbell’s YouTube Series, Unfiltered with Naomi, Comedian Dave Chappelle said he was inspired by Stevie Wonder to visit Ghana. Chappelle, who has been a comedian for three decades, spoke in the nearly one hour interview about his goals, memories and plans for the future. “I want to build something that lasts beyond me,” he told Campbell. He was thinking about creating something that leaves a lasting legacy.

 

“Where do want to go? I mean you’ve been around the world,” Campbell asked him. “Stevie Wonder said in the press recently that he wanted to move to Ghana,” he said. Explaining that Wonder has spoken about coming to Ghana many times through the years, he said there was something different about the way he said it this time around. “This last time he said it, what he said was, ‘I’m moving to Ghana so I can be valued and respected more’….it was almost exactly the phrase he used. You’ve got to think that as a Black American, who amongst us is more valued or respected than Stevie Wonder? And the idea that he would feel this way at this stage in his life, and his career….” He also noted that the award-winning singer/songwriter said he wanted to do this for his grandchildren. “To see him decide to make that move, I wanted to go.”

Campbell, who has been passionate about Africa since the mid-nineties when she was introduced to Nelson Mandela, has been on a mission to put Africa in the spotlight. Chappelle said he called her immediately when considering the visit to Ghana and she put him in contact with British-Ghanaian Architect, David Adjaye, who designed the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC. “So we’ve been working together hopefully I’ll build something there,” he said. “I hope to open a comedy club there because I heard there’s none,” he continued. This would be welcome news to all the comedians in Ghana and other parts of West Africa to have a hub that showcases comedy shows in Ghana.

By: Ivy Prosper

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Photos: Queen Afua and Wellness Delegation End Ghana Tour

Posted By : Collins/ 959
  She presented her products to them and even had everyone sample one that promises to aid and clear the cardiovascular system.
Queen Afua speaks about her health and wellness products.
Queen Afua shares her book, Sacred Woman.
Queen Afua and her delegation visited the Diaspora Affairs Office inside Jubilee House.
A visit to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park was an opportunity for the team to learn the history of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. Some of the travellers have never visited the African continent and learning about the strides made by Ghana was an eye-opening experience.
Queen Afua after signing the guestbook at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum.
Jerry Johnson is an African American who has made Ghana home and saw the need to educate the youth about the history of Black people around the world. He created the Ancestral Wall around his property as a way to honour important historical figures from Africa and the global African diaspora. Queen Afua and her delegation travelled to Prampram to visit the wall and learn some of the history of people they didn’t know about.
In Prampram.
Attorney and Political Analyst, Angela Rye, Wellness Specialist, Sherease Torain, Holistic Health Practitioner, Queen Afua, Recording Artist, Educator and Cultural Ambassador, Queen Iminah, Entrepreneur, Alexis Froe.
Carrying the Pan-African flag, designed by Marcus Garvey at Cape Coast Castle.
Rabbi Kohain Halevi assisted in taking the group through the tour at Cape Coast Castle
For the African American community, a visit to see the dungeons of Cape Coast Castle is an important part of the journey to Africa. It’s an opportunity to experience and connect with their ancestors and to see the spaces where the atrocities took place before the ancestors were taken overseas.
The emotional journey at the Slave River in Assin Manso, where captured Africans had their last bath during the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
Assin Manso is where the Slave River passes through and a critical part of the journey of healing for diasporans when they come to Ghana.  Queen Afua and her team experienced the place where captured enslaved Africans were taken for their last bath before being sold into the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The team also engaged in a tree-planting exercise to reconnect with the land and honour the lives of those who were taken.  
Queen Esther Hunter-Sarr planting a tree in Assin Manso, Central Region.
Queen Iminah planting a tree in Assin Manso, Central Region.
 
Queen Afua planting a tree in Assin Manso, Central Region in honour of the ancestors.
Queen Afua after her book reading with Ivy Prosper, who was MC at the program.
Queen Afua’s best-selling book, The Sacred Woman was recently launched for the twentieth anniversary edition. She had a book reading and signing at the Pan African Writer’s Association House (PAWA), hosted by the Ghana Association of Writers. Mr. Gbormittah, President of the Ghana Association of Writers was there and he was happy that such an event was their first in a year after the pandemic halted their in-person activities.
Queen Afua reads an excerpt from her book, Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind and Spirit.
Aburi Botanical Gardens is one of the beautiful wonders of Ghana and many tourists take the opportunity to experience the wonder and beauty of nature there. Queen Afua has partnered with Tehuti Films to document her experience in Ghana and used the gardens as a perfect setting to film a scene in her upcoming documentary.
Queen Afua and Queen Esther Hunter-Sarr at Aburi Botanical Gardens.
A visit to former President H.E. John Kofi Kuffor, at his home was an honour for the delegation. It was an opportunity for Queen Afua to speak to the former president about her health and wellness system and how she has helped to heal people around the world.
Queen Afua and Dentaa Amoateng with former president H.E. John Kofi Kufuor.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, met with the delegation for a breakfast meeting at Kempinski Hotel on the final day of their tour of Ghana. He expressed how impressed he is with the work Queen Afua is doing with her health and wellness teachings. He announced in the brief meeting before breakfast that he was appointing her as Ghana’s Wellness Ambassador.
Queen Afua meets the new Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal.
  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
 
After the welcome ceremony at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.
  On their second day in Ghana, the team had a meeting at Jubilee House with the Director of Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President, Akwasi Ababio, Deputy Director of Diaspora Affairs, Nadia Adongo Musah, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Emmanuel Adumua-Bossman and the Presidential Advisor on Health, Anthony Nsiah-Asare. Queen Afua spoke to them about her vision for health and wellness in Ghana. She spoke about her best-selling books and how she has helped millions around the world heal their bodies through food.  
Queen Afua and her delegation meeting at Jubilee House.
  She presented her products to them and even had everyone sample one that promises to aid and clear the cardiovascular system.
Queen Afua speaks about her health and wellness products.
Queen Afua shares her book, Sacred Woman.
Queen Afua and her delegation visited the Diaspora Affairs Office inside Jubilee House.
A visit to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park was an opportunity for the team to learn the history of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. Some of the travellers have never visited the African continent and learning about the strides made by Ghana was an eye-opening experience.
Queen Afua after signing the guestbook at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum.
Jerry Johnson is an African American who has made Ghana home and saw the need to educate the youth about the history of Black people around the world. He created the Ancestral Wall around his property as a way to honour important historical figures from Africa and the global African diaspora. Queen Afua and her delegation travelled to Prampram to visit the wall and learn some of the history of people they didn’t know about.
In Prampram.
Attorney and Political Analyst, Angela Rye, Wellness Specialist, Sherease Torain, Holistic Health Practitioner, Queen Afua, Recording Artist, Educator and Cultural Ambassador, Queen Iminah, Entrepreneur, Alexis Froe.
Carrying the Pan-African flag, designed by Marcus Garvey at Cape Coast Castle.
Rabbi Kohain Halevi assisted in taking the group through the tour at Cape Coast Castle
For the African American community, a visit to see the dungeons of Cape Coast Castle is an important part of the journey to Africa. It’s an opportunity to experience and connect with their ancestors and to see the spaces where the atrocities took place before the ancestors were taken overseas.
The emotional journey at the Slave River in Assin Manso, where captured Africans had their last bath during the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
Assin Manso is where the Slave River passes through and a critical part of the journey of healing for diasporans when they come to Ghana.  Queen Afua and her team experienced the place where captured enslaved Africans were taken for their last bath before being sold into the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The team also engaged in a tree-planting exercise to reconnect with the land and honour the lives of those who were taken.  
Queen Esther Hunter-Sarr planting a tree in Assin Manso, Central Region.
Queen Iminah planting a tree in Assin Manso, Central Region.
 
Queen Afua planting a tree in Assin Manso, Central Region in honour of the ancestors.
Queen Afua after her book reading with Ivy Prosper, who was MC at the program.
Queen Afua’s best-selling book, The Sacred Woman was recently launched for the twentieth anniversary edition. She had a book reading and signing at the Pan African Writer’s Association House (PAWA), hosted by the Ghana Association of Writers. Mr. Gbormittah, President of the Ghana Association of Writers was there and he was happy that such an event was their first in a year after the pandemic halted their in-person activities.
Queen Afua reads an excerpt from her book, Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind and Spirit.
Aburi Botanical Gardens is one of the beautiful wonders of Ghana and many tourists take the opportunity to experience the wonder and beauty of nature there. Queen Afua has partnered with Tehuti Films to document her experience in Ghana and used the gardens as a perfect setting to film a scene in her upcoming documentary.
Queen Afua and Queen Esther Hunter-Sarr at Aburi Botanical Gardens.
A visit to former President H.E. John Kofi Kuffor, at his home was an honour for the delegation. It was an opportunity for Queen Afua to speak to the former president about her health and wellness system and how she has helped to heal people around the world.
Queen Afua and Dentaa Amoateng with former president H.E. John Kofi Kufuor.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, met with the delegation for a breakfast meeting at Kempinski Hotel on the final day of their tour of Ghana. He expressed how impressed he is with the work Queen Afua is doing with her health and wellness teachings. He announced in the brief meeting before breakfast that he was appointing her as Ghana’s Wellness Ambassador.
Queen Afua meets the new Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal.
  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Holistic Health Practitioner and Best-Selling Author, Queen Afua visited Ghana as part of the Beyond The Return initiative targeted at Diaspora community to experience “A Decade of African Renaissance”. The delegation were welcomed and hosted by the Ghana Tourism Authority under the Beyond The Return Initiative.

 

The first day of Queen Afua’s trip began with a welcome ceremony at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. A cultural troupe performed traditional song and dance while Queen Afua and her delegation joined in and danced to the beat of the drums. It was clear the love they have for the motherland Africa.

 

After the welcome ceremony at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.

 

On their second day in Ghana, the team had a meeting at Jubilee House with the Director of Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President, Akwasi Ababio, Deputy Director of Diaspora Affairs, Nadia Adongo Musah, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Emmanuel Adumua-Bossman and the Presidential Advisor on Health, Anthony Nsiah-Asare. Queen Afua spoke to them about her vision for health and wellness in Ghana. She spoke about her best-selling books and how she has helped millions around the world heal their bodies through food.

 

Queen Afua and her delegation meeting at Jubilee House.

 

She presented her products to them and even had everyone sample one that promises to aid and clear the cardiovascular system.

Queen Afua speaks about her health and wellness products.

Queen Afua shares her book, Sacred Woman.

Queen Afua and her delegation visited the Diaspora Affairs Office inside Jubilee House.

A visit to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park was an opportunity for the team to learn the history of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. Some of the travellers have never visited the African continent and learning about the strides made by Ghana was an eye-opening experience.

Queen Afua after signing the guestbook at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum.

Jerry Johnson is an African American who has made Ghana home and saw the need to educate the youth about the history of Black people around the world. He created the Ancestral Wall around his property as a way to honour important historical figures from Africa and the global African diaspora. Queen Afua and her delegation travelled to Prampram to visit the wall and learn some of the history of people they didn’t know about.

In Prampram.

Attorney and Political Analyst, Angela Rye, Wellness Specialist, Sherease Torain, Holistic Health Practitioner, Queen Afua, Recording Artist, Educator and Cultural Ambassador, Queen Iminah, Entrepreneur, Alexis Froe.

Carrying the Pan-African flag, designed by Marcus Garvey at Cape Coast Castle.

Rabbi Kohain Halevi assisted in taking the group through the tour at Cape Coast Castle

For the African American community, a visit to see the dungeons of Cape Coast Castle is an important part of the journey to Africa. It’s an opportunity to experience and connect with their ancestors and to see the spaces where the atrocities took place before the ancestors were taken overseas.

The emotional journey at the Slave River in Assin Manso, where captured Africans had their last bath during the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

Assin Manso is where the Slave River passes through and a critical part of the journey of healing for diasporans when they come to Ghana.  Queen Afua and her team experienced the place where captured enslaved Africans were taken for their last bath before being sold into the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

The team also engaged in a tree-planting exercise to reconnect with the land and honour the lives of those who were taken.

 

Queen Esther Hunter-Sarr planting a tree in Assin Manso, Central Region.

Queen Iminah planting a tree in Assin Manso, Central Region.

 

Queen Afua planting a tree in Assin Manso, Central Region in honour of the ancestors.

Queen Afua after her book reading with Ivy Prosper, who was MC at the program.

Queen Afua’s best-selling book, The Sacred Woman was recently launched for the twentieth anniversary edition. She had a book reading and signing at the Pan African Writer’s Association House (PAWA), hosted by the Ghana Association of Writers.

Mr. Gbormittah, President of the Ghana Association of Writers was there and he was happy that such an event was their first in a year after the pandemic halted their in-person activities.

Queen Afua reads an excerpt from her book, Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind and Spirit.

Aburi Botanical Gardens is one of the beautiful wonders of Ghana and many tourists take the opportunity to experience the wonder and beauty of nature there. Queen Afua has partnered with Tehuti Films to document her experience in Ghana and used the gardens as a perfect setting to film a scene in her upcoming documentary.

Queen Afua and Queen Esther Hunter-Sarr at Aburi Botanical Gardens.

A visit to former President H.E. John Kofi Kuffor, at his home was an honour for the delegation. It was an opportunity for Queen Afua to speak to the former president about her health and wellness system and how she has helped to heal people around the world.

Queen Afua and Dentaa Amoateng with former president H.E. John Kofi Kufuor.

The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, met with the delegation for a breakfast meeting at Kempinski Hotel on the final day of their tour of Ghana. He expressed how impressed he is with the work Queen Afua is doing with her health and wellness teachings. He announced in the brief meeting before breakfast that he was appointing her as Ghana’s Wellness Ambassador.

Queen Afua meets the new Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal.

 

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Minister For Tourism Engages Agency Heads To Strategise To Make Sector Number One GDP Contributor

Posted By : Collins/ 700

As part of the the unwavering commitment by the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture ( MoTAC), Hon. Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, to make Ghana’s tourism hub a game changer in the economic transformation of H. E. President Akufo Addo’s vision for Ghana’s “Beyond Aid” agenda, a two 2-day retreat was organized for the Management Staff and the Heads of Agencies under the Ministry, at Akosombo in the Eastern Region, from 25-26th March, 2021.

He observed that the Tourism industry was not doing well as expected and indicated his resolve to turn the economic fortunes of the Sector by creating massive employment opportunities for the Ghanian citizenry.

He further expressed his desire to generate 5-Billion Dollars from the Tourism industry by December, 2022.

Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, intimated that upon his assumption of office, H E President Akufo Addo indicated to him to use his business acumen and entrepreneural skills to change the face of Ghana’s Tourism industry.

The Sector Minister emphasized that he would infuse business perspectives and Strategic Policy direction that would rake in huge financial gains for the Tourism arena.

He further expressed his commitment to make Ghana’s Tourism Sector number one contributor to the country’s GDP from it’s current third place ranking from the economic performance in Ghana.

He further expressed his preparedness to make Ghana an attractive Tourism destination by boosting Tourism, Culture and the Creative Arts segment, given that it is a multi billion dollar industry, which needed to be given an utmost attention it deserved.

He also expressed his resolve to make Domestic Tourism his top-most priority Agenda to attract about One Million local Tourists visitation annually.

Dr. Awal, further entreated the Heads of Agencies under the Ministry to endeavour to always, as a matter of Policy direction have a recouse to him before undertaking any Policy execution of their operations.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. John Yao Agbeko, earlier in his welcome remarks officially welcome Hon. Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, for his appointment to the Ministry, adding that the meeting was to also afford the Policy Makers an opportunity to have a deeper knowledge of the Sector-wide performance from the Agency Heads briefings of their activities.

Meanwhile, eleven (11) Heads of Agencies under the Ministry took turns to deliver their presentations on their respective Agencies’ Policy interventions.

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Gov’t targets $5bn Tourism revenue in 2 yrs – Dr Awal reveals at vetting

Posted By : Collins/ 834

The Minister designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, has outlined plans to increase revenue from the sector to $6 billion within the next three years.

Currently, data from the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) indicate that the sector contributed $1 billion to the economy last year, with global projections indicating that the figure could increase to $1.2 billion by the close of the year.

The Minister designate, who made an ambitious $5-billion projection of inflow within his first two years in office when given the nod, insisted that it was very possible, considering the fact that the country raked in $3.3 billion in 2019 due to the Year of Return initiative.

Dr Awal was, therefore, confident that initiatives such as the Year of Return and Beyond the Return, a further improvement of tourist sites and Ghana’s arts and culture would help achieve that target.

Leading foreign exchange earner

He said his plan was to make the tourism sector the number one foreign exchange earner for the country in the next four years.

Ghana’s tourism industry is currently the fourth foreign exchange earner, with gold, oil and cocoa occupying the number one to three positions, respectively.

“Tourism everywhere contributes significantly to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In Ghana, it is the number four foreign exchange earner, but we are determined to make it the number one,” he stated.

Measures to achieve targets

Dr Awal said the targets would be achieved by boosting both domestic and international tourism in the country.

“We are going to boost both domestic and foreign tourism. Ghana has the best in terms of tourist sites; Ghanaian people are warm, have very rich arts and culture and good heritage sites, and we think that when we put our heads together, we can do a lot there, especially internal tourism,” the minister designate said.

He said internal tourism was not much patronised and called on Parliament to champion that cause.

“We want to institute corporate tourism, school tourism, religious tourism, among others,” he noted.

To do that, Dr Awal said, the country would have to improve its arts and culture offerings, since that was the foundation for a strong tourism sector for any country.

“Our national festivals on arts and culture will have to come back. You cannot have a good tourism sector without a good arts and culture background,” he stated.

$20-million studio

Dr Awal also revealed plans by the ministry, under his supervision, to build a $20-million world-class music and film studio, with the support of the private sector.

That, he said, would help position the country as a film production hub in West Africa.

“This is one element that can bring increased tourism into the country. We currently don’t have any serious studio in this country. In Nigeria, the film industry, two years ago, generated $590 million. In Hollywood, the industry generated over $4.1 billion.

“Ghana can do it if we have a studio that produces movies,” he stated.

Promoting festivals

The minister designate also outlined his plans to promote Ghanaian festivals and make them more attractive to the international community.

“Marketing and promotion are very important in promoting Ghanaian festivals. We want to have a comprehensive calendar and programme, worked out with the chiefs and traditional authorities, to market Ghanaian festivals in and outside Ghana and also seek to get sponsorship for these festivals,” Dr Awal noted.

$50-million industry support

The minister designate for Tourism also pointed out that the sector had been the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said statistics available to the ministry indicated that the Ghanaian tourism industry had lost GH¢6 billion since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The former Minister of Business Development said although the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) had provided some support for the industry, it was still not enough.

He said the ministry was, therefore, working on a $50-million fund to support the industry.

“What we intend doing is carry out a proper impact assessment, which the GTA is already doing, to look at what we can do. We intend to build the capacities of the players in the sector, give them business ideas and provide funding for them,” he stated.

Dr Awal stressed that anytime a pandemic was over, there was a surge in tourism, saying: “We, therefore, want to use the downtime.”

Marine drive project

The former Business Development Minister also said he would ensure massive participation of the private sector in the Marine Drive Tourism project.

“The Marine Drive Project is very important and a game changer project in Ghana. When I am given the nod, I will look at the details; I am a business development person and I will ensure that the project is accelerated to create jobs for Ghanaians.

“We expect to invest between $8 billion and $10 billion to ensure the project gets underway and I will ensure that the private sector is encouraged to participate,” he said.

Source: GraphicOnline

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The NAACP And Ghana, A Shared Identity

Posted By : Collins/ 1200

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has been at the forefront of the civil rights movement for over a century.  Founded, on February 12, 1909, they are the oldest civil rights organization in the United States.  As we mark their 112th anniverary, it was important to share a brief history of the organization and why they are still important today.

 

What many people don’t know is that the Niagara Movement, which was an organization of black intellectuals, is seen as the predecessor of the NAACP.  The Niagara Movement included 29 African Americans who had a secret meeting in 1905 in Fort Erie, Ontario Canada (close to Niagara Falls). Where they created a manifesto that was focused on finding ways to abolish racial discrimination.  Many of the members of the Niagara Movement, were subsequently some of the founders of the NAACP.

One of the most notable founding members of the NAACP, was W.E.B. DuBois, who went on to become one of the most important historical figures in the Pan Africanist movement.  President Kwame Nkrumah convinced DuBois to visit Ghana in 1960 and he eventually moved and became a Ghanaian citizen. He died in Ghana and was buried there, his grave being one of the most visited sites in the country.

 

Other founding members of the NAACP included Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Mary Church Terrell and a group of white liberals who also wanted racial justice; Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison, William English Walling and Dr. Henry Moscowitz.

Throughout history, the NAACP has fought against the many injustices that faced Black people including, voting rights, segregation, racial violence, discrimination in employment opportunities, anti-lynching, education and many more of the constitutional rights they were being denied.

 

The NAACP has also been at the fore when it comes to important litigation cases.  They established the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund in 1939 and have been successful in legal battles that have led to changes in the legal system including the 1954 school segregation ruling in Topeka.

 

During the 1980s, the NAACP showed their solidarity for Black South Africans when they spoke publicly against the Apartheid system, which was reminiscent of the experiences African Americans also had in the United States.

Derrick Johnson currently serves as the 19th President of the NAACP.  He has led the organization with being on the frontlines of many current pressing issues of the African American community. In 2019, he also partnered with the Jamestown to Jamestown project that marked the 400 year anniversary of the documented ship of enslaved Africans that arrived in the U.S. It was a collaboration with the ‘Year of Return’ and The Adinkra Group and brought over 250 African Americans on a life-changing journey to Ghana. It was a historic trip as a Grand Durbar was held in their honour and the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, was in attendance and gave a special warm welcome to all the African Americans by taking a moment to shake everyone’s hand.  “We want to thank you for the open arms that you have received us with. We are proud to be African, we are proud to be a part of this great celebration. We are proud to be with you today,” Derrick Johnson said when addressing the crowd at the Grand Durbar in Jamestown, Accra.

The NAACP continues to play an important role in the lives of the African American community.  They are actively involved in federal advocacy, justice, education, supporting economic opportunities, health and diversity in America.

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