Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture has said the country could rake in between six and seven billion dollars annually if the government remains focused on developing and maintaining tourist sites.
In a speech during the commissioning of the redeveloped Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the Minister mentioned that the Akufo-Addo government has been keen to make Ghana the most preferred tourism destination on the continent.
“The big boys of Africa in terms of tourism; Morrocco, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Senegal all have their own tourist attractions. They have the wildlife; they have the beaches. Ghana has heritage and political tourism”, the minister said the country is leveraging its unique attractions to position itself as the go-to country for tourists.
Among others, he mentioned that the “Osu Castle will be modernized” next year, adding that; “And we are going to link all these; Kwame Nkrumah Park, Osu Castle and National Museum, Forts and Castles” to make the agenda a reality.
“If we continue as we’re going, over the next two years, tourism will generate between six to seven billion dollars per annum,” he said. “We’re going to contribute 150,000 jobs every year.”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday, 4th July 2023, commissioned the renovated and modernised Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, a year after he cut the sod for the commencement of work on the project.
The Park, which was built in 1991 and opened to the public in 1992, in the time of the 1st President of the 4th Republic, late Jerry John Rawlings, had not seen any renovation since then, resulting in significant deterioration of the edifice.
It is for this reason that President Akufo-Addo instructed the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture to close it down temporarily for renovation to be undertaken.
Addressing the gathering at the ceremony, the President noted that; “The Park now has facilities including a presidential library, receptive facility, mini-amphitheater, restaurant, freedom wall, and a digitalised payment and access system.
The mausoleum has also been fully refurbished, with the tombstone upgraded, and the museum expanded with an audiovisual tunnel. There is also an upgraded VVIP lounge, expanded recreational area, a modernized gift shop, and a fountain area with synchronised audiovisuals, the first of its kind in West Africa.”
