The Ghana Tourism Industry is expected to contribute $4 billion to the national economy, ranking it first Gross Domestic Product contributor by 2024.
The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku Mantey, who disclosed this at the launch of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) in Accra last Tuesday said, the goal of the government is to attract two million tourists to Ghana each year, through the promotion of the country’s vibrant culture.
“President Akufo-Addo wants to make tourism the number one contributor to Ghana’s GDP and make Ghana a hub of tourism in West Africa. He has given us a target of USD 4 billion by the year 2024,” he added.
He noted that Ghana has diverse cultural elements that could attract investors.
He believed that NAFAC’s elevation to international status would lead to a more improved celebration which would help raise revenue for the country.
Mr Mantey stated that this year’s theme, ‘Reviving Patriotism, Peace and Unity through cultural diversity for sustainability development’ was to raise awareness of the moral obligations Ghanaians have to the nation in light of the current global development agenda.
“We celebrate the National Festival of Arts and Culture because it promotes unity, peace and tourism. We cannot attain all that we want from tourism without our culture,” he emphasized.
The Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture, Madam Janet Edna Nyame, expressed gratitude to the initiators of the festival as it has been one of the flagship programmes of the Commission for six decades.
“We are confident that NAFAC over the past years has contributed to artistic development, peaceful coexistence, unity in diversity, creativity and socio-economic development of our country,” she stated.
She appealed to individuals, groups and organisations to support the festival to make it a success as culture has the potential of rekindling patriotism and reinforcing peace and unity towards national development.
The week-long celebration will be held in Cape Coast and will involve activities including choral and indigenous music, a night of highlife, a day for young people, a colloquium, football games and a day to revive our storytelling and traditions.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
