By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Bolgatanga, Sept. 22, GNA – Mr Joseph Appiagyei, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), has appealed to the government to extend the country’s railway transportation system to the Upper East Region to facilitate trade and boost tourism.
He said the extension of the railway network, together with the development of an inland port at Paga, a border community in the Kassena-Nankana West District, would ease transportation challenges and open the region to both domestic and international tourists.
Mr Appiagyei made the call at the 2026 Upper East Regional Tourism Awards and Promotion Night held in Bolgatanga where various individuals, hospitality institutions and media outlet were honoured for their outstanding contribution to the promotion of tourism in the region.
He said the region’s strategic location as Ghana’s gateway to the Sahel and its cultural and tourism assets required strategic infrastructure to unlock its full potential.
“I further wish to appeal to the government to consider extending the railway transportation system to this part of the country to ease the burden on our routes and to also consider creating an inland port at Paga,” he said.
“These interventions will not only facilitate trade but will also open up the region to domestic and international tourists,” he added.
Mr Appiagyei also urged the government to expedite action on the Upper East Regional Airport project, saying an operational airport would significantly improve tourist traffic to the region.
He said improved transport infrastructure was essential to connecting the region’s tourism destinations with other parts of the country and neighbouring countries.
The Regional Director further urged stakeholders in the tourism industry to deliberately target the Sahel market, given the region’s strategic location and its links with neighbouring countries.
He appealed to upmarket hotels to employ French-speaking staff to provide comprehensive services to visitors from Francophone countries.
The 2026 Regional Tourism Awards were held under the theme: “Celebrating Excellence Beyond Borders – The Black Star Experience.”
Mr Louis Bagarinyii Tindan, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Ghana Hotels Association, also called for stronger collaboration among industry stakeholders to address challenges confronting the hospitality sector.
He cited multiple taxes and statutory charges, high operational costs, unreliable power supply and high staff turnover among the challenges affecting hotels in the region.
Mr Tindan said addressing the challenges would enable hotels and other tourism businesses to remain competitive and provide quality services to visitors.
In a speech read on her behalf, Mrs Maame Efua Houadjeto, the Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, said tourism was one of the few sectors that brought together a country’s culture, history, creativity, hospitality, environment and people to create experiences for visitors.
She said Ghana’s ambition should be to build a tourism industry that was world-class, competitive, sustainable and inclusive, supported by innovation, technology, skills development and quality service delivery.
She said the Authority remained committed to strengthening standards, improving service quality, promoting innovation and supporting capacity development to ensure that Ghana remained competitive in the global tourism market.
Mr Akamugri Donatus Atanga, the Upper East Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf said tourism and hospitality remained important drivers of economic development through job creation, support for local enterprises, investment attraction and promotion of culture.
He said the region was endowed with cultural, historical and natural tourism assets that needed to be developed, packaged, preserved and marketed effectively.
Mr Atanga said the region’s strategic location and strong cultural and economic links with neighbouring countries presented opportunities for cross-border tourism, cultural exchange and regional tourism circuits.
He urged stakeholders to develop tourism experiences that connected communities, destinations and countries to maximise the benefits of the sector.
The Minister said the Regional Coordinating Council remained committed to supporting initiatives that promoted tourism, culture, investment and economic development in the region.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]