By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, July 16, GNA – Government has pledged to strengthen collaboration with tourism stakeholders to transform the sector into a driver of economic growth, job creation and development.
The partnership is expected to support innovation, improve Ghana’s global tourism visibility and enhance the competitiveness of the tourism, culture and creative arts sector.
Dr Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff, gave the assurance at a High-Level Stakeholder Consultative Meeting organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts in Accra.
He said stronger collaboration between government and industry stakeholders was essential to unlocking the full potential of the sector.
The meeting brought together government officials, heads of agencies, private sector operators and tourism industry players to discuss strategies for improving the sector’s growth and competitiveness.
Dr Debrah said innovation and effective storytelling were critical to promoting Ghana as a preferred tourism destination, noting that successful tourism destinations were built around compelling narratives.
“If you don’t tell a story very well, no one knows. Innovation must lead our tourism agenda if we are to capture the attention of potential tourists and grow visitor inflows,” Dr Debrah said.
He urged stakeholders to develop creative, market-driven tourism products and work with government institutions to increase Ghana’s visibility on the global tourism market.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, said the Ministry was committed to making the sector a key pillar of national development through its “domestic-first, global-next” strategy.
She said the strategy focused on strengthening domestic tourism and cultural participation as a foundation for expanding Ghana’s international tourism market.
The Minister highlighted initiatives undertaken by the Ministry, including the launch of the Ghana National Cultural Policy, implementation of the UNESCO Culture 2030 Indicators Programme and development of Ghana’s first Tourism Satellite Account.
She also cited efforts to preserve Ghana’s cultural heritage following the inscription of Highlife music, dance and Kente on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Madam Gomashie outlined tourism innovation initiatives, including the Afro Gastro Festival, National Photo Competition, Ghana Tourism Marketplace, Ghana Tourism Investment Platform and Akwaaba Night.
She called on the private sector to invest in tourism training and skills development to improve service delivery and strengthen the sector’s competitiveness.
The Minister announced that Ghana had secured the bid to host the 70th Session of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa in 2027, which would coincide with the country’s 70th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
Ms Elsie Appau-Klu, Technical Advisor to the Ghana Revenue Authority, said tax compliance remained important in supporting national development.
She said recent tax reforms were aimed at creating a more business-friendly environment and encouraged small businesses to take advantage of the modified taxation scheme to promote growth and job creation.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng