By Hafsa Obeng/ Grace Yayra Kagatse
Accra, Aug. 11, GNA – Mrs Alisa Osei-Asamoah, the Chief Executive Officer of Rialy Consult, says Ghana is harnessing its religious tolerance, rich cultural heritage and interfaith harmony to promote social cohesion and foster economic growth, with tourism serving as a key driver of peace, employment and national development.
She made the remarks at the maiden Interfaith Tourism Conference 2026 in Accra, held on the theme: “Tourism as a Catalyst for Peace Promotion, Job Creation and Development.”
The conference brought together faith leaders, traditional authorities, tourism practitioners and government officials to explore collaborative strategies for achieving these objectives.
She noted that tourism had evolved beyond leisure and recreation to become a powerful tool for economic growth, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.
Mrs Osei-Asamoah said Ghana’s long-standing harmony among Christians, Muslims, traditionalists and other faith communities remained one of the country’s greatest strengths and continued to attract visitors from around the world.
“Ghana has long been recognised as a beacon of peace and religious tolerance in Africa. This harmony is one of our nation’s greatest strengths and an important reason why Ghana continues to attract visitors from across the globe,” she said.
Mrs Osei-Asamoah added that churches, mosques, shrines and cultural festivals were valuable tourism assets that could contribute significantly to local and national development if preserved and promoted responsibly.
She stressed that sustainable tourism could not flourish in the absence of peace.
Mr Ernest Kwadwo Boateng, President of the Interfaith Tourism World Club, said the organisation was promoting tourism as a vehicle for peacebuilding, nation-building and economic empowerment under its motto, “One World, One People.”
He announced plans to establish an interfaith tourism site that would showcase the history and contributions of Christianity, Islam, Traditional Religion and other faiths in a single location.
“We believe that all faiths must come together, not necessarily to worship together, but to understand one another and collaborate in promoting peace and creating jobs. When we do that, tourism becomes a vehicle for national development,” he said.
Mr Boateng questioned why Ghana could not benefit from religious tourism in the same way destinations such as Mecca and Israel had done, and pledged the Club’s commitment to advancing policy dialogue, peace and national development through tourism.
Mr Kilian Bunuso Gyader, Deputy Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME) at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to positioning tourism, culture and the creative arts as strategic drivers of economic transformation under President John Dramani Mahama.
He described tourism as an instrument of diplomacy and a bridge for religious understanding, saying: “Without peace, there can be no investment. Without peace, there can be no travel. Without peace, there can be no sustainable development.”
Mr Gyader highlighted the Black Star Experience as the Government’s flagship initiative to position Ghana as Africa’s preferred cultural and heritage destination through year-round festivals, exhibitions and community tourism programmes.
He said the initiative would create employment opportunities for young people and women while promoting inclusive economic growth.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporters: Hafsa Obeng and Grace Yayra Kagatse
Email: [email protected]