By Leo Nelson
Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has launched a passionate rallying cry for Ghanaians to embrace their authentic cultural identity, unequivocally stating: “Being African must not be a costume we wear once a week”
The Minister, currently on a working tour of the culturally vibrant Volta Region, emphasized the urgent need for Ghanaians to shed the shackles of imitation and instead, proudly nurture and consistently celebrate their unique heritage.
Her tour, a crucial step in assessing the ground realities of Ghana’s tourism landscape, aims to pinpoint infrastructural gaps, devise strategies to boost internal revenue, and unlock vast employment opportunities within the sector.
Minister Gomashie stressed that genuine national development hinges on investing in local talent and meticulously preserving Ghana’s heritage sites.
She lauded digital trailblazers like Wode Maya and the Ghana Tourism Authority’s Deputy CEO, Abeiku Aggrey, for their stellar efforts in showcasing the Volta Region’s unparalleled beauty to a global audience, underscoring the immense digital potential of the tourism sector.
Reaffirming her Ministry’s inclusive mandate, Gomashie articulated a vision for a culturally grounded and economically thriving industry. She specifically acknowledged former President John Dramani Mahama for laying the foundational stone of Ghana’s modern tourism framework, particularly through the establishment of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts itself.
“Impactful leadership is measured by visionary policies, not merely institutional titles,” she noted, subtly hitting at previous administrations.
The Minister’s itinerary was packed, taking her to iconic sites including the Volta Regional Museum, Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary, the majestic Wli Waterfalls, and the sensitive ‘No Man’s Land’ enclave at the Ghana-Togo border.
At Tafi Atome, she urged local communities to take ownership and invest in the maintenance of their attractions to significantly boost tourist visits.
Accompanied by her Deputy, Hon. Yussif Issaka Jajah, Minister Gomashie also held crucial engagements with border officials, emphasizing the critical importance of securing the area against illicit crossings.
The visit is part of a broader regional engagement aimed at galvanizing Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and other key stakeholders.
Discussions, held at the Regional Coordinating Council in Ho, focused intensely on collaboration between the Ministry and local assemblies to brand, package, and aggressively market the Volta Region’s diverse cultural and ecological treasures.
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, echoed Gomashie’s commitment, reaffirming his dedication to positioning the Volta Region as a premier tourism destination.
Gunu frankly identified accessibility as a critical bottleneck, lamenting that “Many of our attractions are beautiful and full of potential, but difficult to reach.”
He assured the delegation that measures are already underway to bridge these infrastructural gaps and enhance access to key tourist sites.
The visit culminated in a dynamic stakeholder engagement session at the Praise City Eco Park and Resort, famously known as “Point and Kill,” in the Ho municipality.
The eco-park, boasting attractions like zip lines, canopy walkways, boat rides, and exotic wildlife, was showcased as a prime example of the region’s rich potential for eco-tourism and adventure travel – a testament to successful public-private collaboration.
“The Volta Region stands ready to partner with the Ministry to turn our natural and cultural assets into world-class destinations that will benefit our people and boost our local economy,”
These concerted efforts are squarely aligned with the ongoing ‘Visit Volta’ campaign, a flagship initiative designed to aggressively promote the region’s unique heritage and draw both domestic and international tourists.
The message is clear: the Volta Region is open for business, and its cultural treasures are ready to shine.