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Gov’t urged to invest in tourism to reap full benefits
The Director in-Charge of monitoring and Evaluation at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Dr George Asafo Adjei has said that although the tourism sector is receiving some attention from the government with the development of key tourism sites, a lot more needs to be done to maximise the benefits of the sector.
According to him, there was the need to develop tourism along the value chain, adding that “we need to link tourism development with all its accompaniments such as entertainment, food joints and other side attractions to sustain the interest of tourists who would flock into the country.”
He said it was not enough to just draw tourists into the country without the favourable conditions to sustain and generate their interest.
Most tourists want something that would generate their interest rather than merely visiting tourist sites.
“We need to ensure that the 10 or 15 minutes a tourist will spend at tourist sites, he can take something away. There could be things like cultural displays performed by local people at these sites,” he emphasised.
He was speaking in an interview with The Spectator on the sidelines of a day’s Regional sensitisation workshop organised by GIPC to create awareness on its mandate and service delivery at Techiman in the Bono East Region.
Among the objectives of the workshop was to share insights of the region’s untapped economic potentials and opportunities among others.
Dr Asafo Adjei charged the Bono East Regional Coordinating Council to liaise with the GIPC to develop a business plan to push for the region’s development.
The Bono East Region, he noted must leverage on its tourism potential as well as agribusiness which the region abounds in to fast-track the development of the area.
He also called for the improvement in infrastructure such as roads, hospitals and hotels which he said were very critical to attract investors into the new region.
The Bono East Regional Minister, Kwasi Adu Gyan, commended GIPC for extending their activities to the Bono East Region and expressed the hope that this would go a long way to speed up the implementation of the area.
He explained that the government believes that the unit of development begins from the Municipal and district Assemblies through the implementation of local content and urged the participants to make use of the knowledge acquired through the workshop.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Techiman
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.