Tourism Ministry partners New York City to grow sector

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and the Office of the New York Mayor have begun collaborations to drive Ghana’s effort to become the tourism hub in Africa.

The Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, speaking expressed his determination to support Ghana to achieve the desired objective.

The mayor was speaking after the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, conferred a Tourism Ambassador title on him in New York, USA, over the weekend.

The ceremony was on the sidelines of a Global Citizen Prize and Summit.

The summit recognises the contributions of remarkable change-makers working towards ending extreme poverty in their respective communities and also fostering social change across the globe.

Support From Mayor Adams

Mr Adams expressed his readiness to help increase the number of tourists from New York, in particular, and the US in general, to Ghana to enhance international tourism.

New York is the wealthiest and most populous city in America. It is also the commercial and financial capital of the US. 

“I have been to Ghana and I enjoyed my stay in that beautiful country. Ghana is a peaceful country with a globally respected President,” Mr Adams said. 

Mr Adams said the launch of ‘The Year of Return’ project by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was a clear indication of Ghana’s commitment to rally the Black race and unite them with their motherland.

For his part, Dr Awal said the US was the biggest source of international arrivals in Ghana, accounting for about 30 per cent of all tourist arrivals over the years.

He said the ministry’s goal was to attract two million international tourists to the country annually from 2024, adding that support from the Mayor would help achieve that objective.

The minister also said the country had a rich and diverse culture, as well as over 30 forts and castles, making Ghana an attractive tourism destination. 

He said tourism was not only a source of leisure but also an avenue for the promotion of trade and investment.

Mr Awal congratulated Mr Adams on being the second Black Mayor of New York.

It can be recalled that Mr. Adams in 2021, embarked on a weeklong spiritual journey in Ghana, less than a month before assuming office as a Mayor. He met with foreign dignitaries and participated in a spiritual cleansing ceremony, per reports. He visited infamous sites of the slave trade and toured thriving local businesses.

For many Black Americans, a visit to Ghana, is a wrenching and moving experience. And Mr. Adams, who was then slated to be New York City’s second Black mayor, casted his trip in Ghana as proof of resilience and progress.

“My ancestors left Africa with slavery,” Mr. Adams declared at one event. “I’m coming home with the mayoralty, and if I do that only for my aspiration, then I failed those ancestors”.

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