Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare has charged Ghanaians to protect and preserve our historical sites, monuments and artifacts in order to harness Ghana’s cultural assets.
According to her, the tourism industry has the potential to strengthen local communities, protect our heritage, and improve people’s quality of life.
In her view, It is crucial that we successfully utilize these cultural treasures if we want tourism to flourish and be inclusive.
“For tourism to thrive and be inclusive it is imperative that we harness these cultural assets effectively.
Harnessing our cultural asset for inclusive tourism growth require us all to recognize the immense value of our cultural heritage and safeguarding for future generations. We have a duty to protect and to preserve our historical site, monuments and artifacts,” Madam Frema Osei-Opare said on the second day of a 2-day Presidential Summit on Tourism on the theme “Rethinking Tourism for economic growth and job creation” Tourism is a sector that can empower local communities, preserve our heritage and contribute to the wellbeing of our people.
She added that by making investments in the preservation and restoration of historical sites, Ghana can develop an eco-friendly tourism offering that will draw tourists from all over the world.
“That’s why I’m happy with the efforts being made from by the ministry of tourism to preserve and upgrade some of these sites like the ongoing works at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Aburi botanical gardens.”
According to her , as we consider how Ghana can grow its sustainable tourist industry, the time to celebrate and promote our varied traditions and cultural practices is now.
“Ghana is a home of diverse ethnicities, each with its unique customs, languages and artistic expressions by showcasing the beauty and the authenticity of our cultural heritage, we stand to create long-lasting experiences for tourists and foster a sense of pride among our people”.
At least 1,500 African Americans have moved to Ghana since 2019, following a campaign by government. The campaign, dubbed the “Year of Return,” became a catalyst for many descendants of Africa in the diaspora to embark on a spiritual journey.
At the time, it also marked 400 years since the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia.
“The Year of Return” was also to celebrate the resilience of all the victims of the trans-Atlantic slave trade who were forcefully displaced throughout the world, ending up in North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 did slow visitors but hasn’t stopped African Americans from traveling to West Africa. One of the main highlights of such visits is to tour some historical sites, such as the slave castles in central Ghana, to remind them of their ancestry and to reconnect with the continent.
In 2020, Ghana’s government launched what it called “Beyond the Return” campaign. It is a ten year project with the theme, “A decade of African Renaissance 2020-2030.”
