Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said he will never wish an unconstitutional overthrow of government on anyone, considering what he witnessed during the coup d’état that ousted his father.
President Akufo-Addo recalled how Ignatius Kutu Acheampong in 1972 overthrew his father, Edward Akufo-Addo, at a time when he, Nana Addo, had visited the family from Paris, France, for the Christmas holidays. He was at that time practicing law in France.
The President, who was welcoming stakeholders to Peduase for a tourism summit, was torn between describing the location as his “home”, given that he lived there with his father.
He said, “I am happy to welcome all of you, stakeholders in the tourism industry, to Peduase for this summit on tourism.
“I was going to say to my own home, because when my father was president, our family lived here during the era of the 2nd Republic. Kutu Acheampong’s coup of 13th January, 1972 brought his stay to an end”.
He continued, “I was then working as a lawyer in Paris and had come to Peduase to be with the family for the Christmas holidays. I saw at the time from the inside how it was to be on the receiving end of an African coup. It is something that I will not wish on anyone. For its effects on all aspects of one’s life and indeed on all aspects of national life are dire.
“No one will want to visit anyone whose house is on fire. That is why stability under democratic conditions is so vital to the future of our country, of our region and of our continent.”
President Akufo-Addo was at the 2-day Presidential Tourism Summit which ends today, at Peduase, in the Eastern Region, under the theme: “Rethinking Tourism for Economic Growth and Job Creation”.
FOUR-FOLD APPROACH
In his address, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the positive results of tourism, mentioning the impact of the year of return programme his government launched.
He indicated that it was the duty of the nation to ensure that tourism was developed in a sustainable and responsible manner.
He also urged the protection of natural habitats, the conservation of cultural heritage and encouraging local communities to participate fully in tourism.
He proposed a four-fold approach to setting the tone for the dialogue at the summit: preservation, promotion, policy leadership and partnership.
On the first approach, which the president identified as preservation, he indicated that the government and all stakeholders in the tourism sector must preserve what the country has.
He mentioned that every citizen was a guardian of Ghana’s natural wonders, making it their responsibility to safeguard them for future generations.
According to the President, the government and sector stakeholders must amplify, by way of promotion, Ghana’s unique tourism appeal on the global stage through strategic marketing campaigns, enhanced digital presence, and targeted investments in infrastructure.
President Akufo-Addo added that through this effort, the country could showcase the diverse attractions the nation has to offer.
He said that the private sector must show policy leadership in creating the right climate and platform for investments to grow in the tourism sector.
“It is for this reason that the government is prioritising the e-visa regime, the Homeland Return Act and the Visa on Arrival processes,” President Akufo-Addo said.
He observed that the tourism sector requires partnerships and a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders.
He, therefore, called on all the stakeholders present to unite their efforts, share knowledge, and pull resources.
2025 TARGET
President Akufo-Addo has, however, directed the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ghana Tourism Authority to ramp up promotional activities to increase the number of tourists that arrive in the country.
He mentioned that they should record two million arrivals by 2025, which is estimated to rake in some $4 billion for the nation.
“We are building a thriving tourism economy, with many tourism sites currently undergoing improvements. We are determined to build a tourism economy where hospitality, acts, and culture are used as tools to spare economic development,” Akufo-Addo added.
TOURISTS DESTINATION
The Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, noted in his remarks that the tourism industry has started showing signs of recovery and growth after the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the sector.
He called on the sector players to support all the efforts of the government aimed at making Ghana the premier tourism destination on the African continent.
“The first quarter of this year (2023), tourism numbers grew by 47% from 170,000 last year at this time to 247,000 arrivals. If each tourist spends $3,000.00, you can imagine how much it is.
The Vice President of the Ghana Tourism Federation, Dr. Kwesi Eyison, urged stakeholders to diversify tourism attractions across the regions of the country to boost its development.
The Country Director of the World Bank, Mr. Pierre Laporte, commended the government for the initiatives in the tourism sector and pledged the banks continuous support.
