The Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on Ghanaians to embrace their cultural identity with pride and authenticity.
During her national tour in the culturally rich Volta region, the Minister underscored the urgent need to move away from imitation and instead nurture Ghana’s unique heritage.
Speaking to regional tourism officials, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie emphasized the importance of celebrating African traditions, arts, and culture consistently, not just on special occasions.
“Being African must not be a costume we wear once a week,” she declared, urging Ghanaians to project originality in all cultural and creative endeavours.
The national tour is aimed at assessing on-the-ground realities, identifying infrastructural gaps, exploring strategies to boost internal revenue through tourism, and creating employment opportunities.
Hon. Gomashie stressed that investing in local talent and preserving heritage sites are essential for sustainable national development.
She also commended creatives like digital influencer Wode Maya and Abeiku Aggrey, Deputy CEO of GTA, for showcasing the beauty of the Volta region to global audiences, reinforcing her belief in the tourism sector’s vast digital potential.
Reaffirming her Ministry’s inclusive mandate, the Minister outlined a vision of a culturally grounded and economically viable industry.
In her remarks, she acknowledged President John Dramani Mahama for laying the foundation of Ghana’s modern tourism development, particularly through the establishment of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts. She noted that impactful leadership is measured by visionary policies, not merely institutional titles.
As part of her visit, the minister toured several key sites, including the Volta regional Museum, Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary, Wli Waterfalls, and the ‘No Man’s Land’ enclave at the Ghana-Togo border.
At Tafi Atome, she urged communities to invest in the maintenance of attraction sites to increase tourist visits.
She and her Deputy Minister, Hon. Yussif Issaka Jajah, also engaged with border officials to emphasize the importance of securing the area against illegal crossings.
Volta Regional Minister Deepens Focus on Tourism Development
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, reaffirmed his commitment to positioning the Volta region as a premier tourism destination, following a high-level visit by the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, and her delegation over the weekend.
The working visit formed part of a broader tour across the Volta Region aimed at engaging Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and other key stakeholders on strategies to unlock the region’s untapped potential.
The delegation, which included the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Yussif Jajah, as well as chief executives and directors from various tourism agencies, was received at the Regional Coordinating Council in Ho.
Discussions centred on collaboration between the Ministry and local assemblies in branding, packaging, and marketing the region’s diverse cultural and ecological assets.
Madam Gomashie underscored the Ministry’s readiness to support the assemblies in amplifying Volta’s tourism appeal through targeted interventions and strategic partnerships.
She highlighted the importance of connectivity, national pride, and deliberate branding in transforming tourism into a viable economic pillar.
Addressing the delegation, James Gunu identified accessibility as one of the critical challenges hindering tourism growth in the region.
“Many of our attractions are beautiful and full of potential, but difficult to reach,” he stated, adding that measures are underway to address infrastructural gaps and improve access to key tourist sites.
The visit also featured a stakeholder engagement session at the Praise City Eco Park and Resort, popularly known as Point and Kill, located in the Ho municipality.
The event brought together MMDCEs and tourism stakeholders for an immersive tour of the facility, which boasts attractions such as a zip line, canopy walkway, boat rides, and wildlife, including monkeys and ostriches.
The Volta Regional Minister noted that the eco-park exemplifies the region’s rich potential for eco-tourism and adventure-based travel, and serves as a symbol of what can be achieved through public-private collaboration.
Mr. Gunu expressed appreciation to the Tourism Ministry for the timely visit and pledged the region’s commitment to advancing tourism as a catalyst for socio-economic development. “The Volta Region stands ready to partner with the Ministry to turn our natural and cultural assets into world-class destinations that will benefit our people and boost our local economy,” he affirmed.
The ongoing efforts are aligned with the broader ‘Visit Volta’ campaign, a flagship initiative designed to promote the region’s unique heritage and attract domestic and international tourists.
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