By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra, April 22, GNA – A 17-member Technical Committee for the Accra Marine Drive Tourism Investment Project has been inaugurated to provide technical guidance and strengthen interagency collaboration.
The Committee is expected to support the implementation of the project, which seeks to transform Accra’s waterfront into a vibrant economic and cultural hub, positioning the capital as a major tourism destination.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, who inaugurated the committee, acknowledged the delays in the project implementation due to a combination of challenges.
She, however, noted that it had been revived and was progressing steadily, reflecting renewed efforts by the Ministry to boost tourism and create employment opportunities.
The Minister tasked committee members to work within the 18 to 24-month timeline to fast-track processes and ensure smooth implementation of the project.
“Your expertise in areas such as tourism, finance, urban planning, land administration, legal matters and utility provision will be critical to the success of this project,” she said.
Madam Gomashie urged the Committee to cut through bureaucratic bottlenecks, expedite permit approvals and ensure effective coordination among all relevant stakeholders.
She emphasised the need for unity of purpose, stressing that collaboration among the various institutions would be key to achieving the project’s objectives.
“This Ministry stands ready for practical collaboration with the Committee because we believe that when this project materialises, the culture, tourism and other critical sectors will thrive, the economy will grow, and Ghana will prosper,” she added.
The Committee is chaired by Mr Yussif Issaka Jajah, Deputy Minister of Tourism, and comprises representatives from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Institutions represented on the Committee include ABP Consult, the project consultant, the Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Tourism Development Company, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, Lands Commission and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority.
Others are the Ghana Water Company Limited, Electricity Company of Ghana, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Ministry of Finance, Attorney-General’s Department and the Ghana Telecommunications Chamber.
The terms of reference include resolving technical bottlenecks, facilitating implementation, ensuring effective communication of decisions to their respective institutions and supporting the digitalisation of processes.
Mr Jajah, in his remarks, urged members to commit their time and expertise towards achieving the mandate of the Committee within the stipulated time limit.
“If we see developments at the Marine Drive site, we should be proud to say we were part of this project. We have been brought together from various agencies to collaborate, so let us ensure that these objectives are achieved,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe