Accra, March 8, 2023

Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Visa have announced a strategic collaboration that will see the world leader in digital payments become an official payment partner at national tourism sites under GTA’s control, including all GTA-hosted events.

Following this agreement, Visa will serve as one of the accepted forms of payment by patrons at certain tourist sites throughout Ghana including the Kintampo Waterfalls, Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary, the Bunso Eco park, Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm, Assin Manso, Anomabo Memorial Garden of Return, Bonwire Kente Museum, and several other tourist locations in the country

This partnership is significant ahead of the Kwahu Easter festivities in April 2023 and the much anticipated call for entries for  “December In GH,” 2023. Both are a special bundle of activities and programmes designed to make Ghana a top travel destination over holiday periods and beyond.

Commenting on the partnership, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, said: “We have been looking for ways to adopt digital innovation to make lives simple and transform the economy. The decision to partner with Visa aims to drive our financial inclusion agenda while making payments at the various tourist sites and events safer, easier, and more convenient. Travellers and tourists will avoid the trouble of carrying cash by using their Visa cards.”

Adoma Owusu, the Country Manager of Visa Ghana, said: “Ghana is becoming increasingly renowned as a global cultural destination with the onset of cultural events and activities  under the  “December in GH” brand and amazing tourist sites and attractions. At Visa, we remain resolute in our quest to transform the way Ghanaians pay and get paid by offering them the most secure and reliable way. We are excited about our partnership with  GTA as we know most people have a lot of plans lined up to enjoy Ghana. We are happy to be their payment enabler.

GTA is also working with event organisers to offer discounts and incentives to those who purchase tickets with visa cards. These will be announced on a rolling basis.

Digital payments have been demonstrated to be a robust and incredibly adaptable solution for the travel and tourism industry. The partnership with Visa will help to improve domestic revenue collection as shown by the electronic payment system pilot programme that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture launched in 2019, which led to a significant  increase in revenue.

Ghana expects to welcome one million visitors into the country in 2023 with several activities  lined up including concerts, fashion shows, traditional cultural events, and much more.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories.

Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

About the Ghana Tourism Authority

The Ghana Tourism Authority is a state agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture responsible for the regulation of tourism in Ghana by marketing, promoting, licensing, classifying, researching and developing tourism facilities and services in the country.