By Hafsa Obeng, GNA
Accra, April 7, GNA – Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening community-based tourism during her participation in the 2026 Vodza Easter Regatta.
The event, headlined by the Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, brought together key stakeholders and attracted significant national attention to the coastal community of Vodza in the Volta Region.
The Minister joined the Vice President, the Volta Regional Minister, Dzifa Gunu; Madam Gertrude Emefa Donkor, Board Chair, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr Ben Anane Nsiah, Deputy CEO in charge of General Services, Directors from the GTA Head Office, as well as Regional Directors from the Volta and Oti Regions to commemorate the Easter Regatta.
This year’s Regatta, which marked the fifth anniversary, heightened national visibility, drawing large crowds to the event.
Also notable was the GTA’s partnership with the event for the first time, signalling a strategic shift towards deeper collaboration with community-led festivals.
Madam Gomashie said it was important to harness Ghana’s cultural and natural assets to drive inclusive growth and local economic development.
She noted that the Ministry, working closely with the GTA, was deliberately scaling up support for regional festivals and heritage events to ensure they evolved into globally competitive tourism products.
“Our vision is clear, tourism must work for our communities. Events like the Vodza Easter Regatta demonstrate the immense potential within our local economies. With the right partnerships and sustained investment, these platforms can transform livelihoods and position Ghana strongly on the global tourism map,” she said.
The Minister emphasised collaboration, innovation and strategic partnerships on which the Ministry’s approach was anchored, pointing to the GTA’s engagement with the Vodza Regatta as a model for future interventions across the country.
She commended the people of Vodza for preserving their rich maritime heritage and consistently delivering an event that celebrates identity, resilience and community pride.
The 2026 Vodza Easter Regatta, characterised by thrilling canoe races, cultural performances and vibrant community participation, continues to gain prominence as one of the Volta Region’s most anticipated Easter festivities.
“With growing institutional support and high-level national patronage, the event is steadily evolving into a key pillar in Ghana’s domestic tourism drive, reinforcing the Ministry’s broader agenda of decentralising tourism and unlocking opportunities across all regions.”
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe