President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has highlighted transformative achievements in Ghana’s tourism and hospitality sector under his leadership, describing them as unparalleled in the nation’s history.
Delivering his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament on Friday, January 3, 2025, the President credited his administration’s vision for recognizing the vast potential of tourism to drive economic growth in Ghana.
A key achievement he pointed out was the launch of the Year of Return initiative in 2019, under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture and the aegis of the Ghana Tourism Authority. This groundbreaking program attracted 1.5 million visitors to Ghana and generated an estimated $1.9 billion to $3.3 billion in revenue from visitor expenditures on accommodation, food, shopping, transportation, and entertainment.
President Akufo-Addo commended the dedicated efforts of officials and stakeholders in revitalizing key tourist attractions. Notable projects included the refurbishment of the iconic Kwame Nkrumah Museum, which he described as a “world-class facility honoring the legacy of Ghana’s first President.” He remarked, “The mausoleum remains a symbol of Ghana’s great history and a source of inspiration for generations to come. It not only preserves Kwame Nkrumah’s memory but also solidifies Ghana’s place on the global tourism map.”
Other landmark projects the President celebrated include the recently commissioned Nationalism Park and the upcoming Heroes Park, designed to honor the nation’s great figures while serving as immersive repositories of Ghana’s history and progress.
Through these initiatives, President Akufo-Addo proudly highlighted the transformative role of tourism in national development, cementing his administration’s legacy in the tourism sector.\
By: Kobina Baidoo
