The Ghana Football Association (GFA) in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has launched the ‘Visit Ghana Football Tour’ to promote domestic tourism using football as a catalyst.
The event took place at the Accra Tourist Information Centre (ATIC) on Friday, October 2, 2020 with stakeholders from both tourism and football in Ghana attending.
The campaign dubbed, “Beyond the Return, Football Returns” is aimed at igniting the passion for football in both local and diasporan communities, whilst encouraging fans and patrons to visit tourist sites and attractions around the country.
The tour will officially commence at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium with a “Battle of the Stars” football match as a way of resuscitating local football and domestic tourism.
The Deputy CEO of Operations, GTA, Mr. Ekow Sampson who spoke on behalf of the Chief Executive, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, stated that football is such an important sporting event that draws attention to itself, and this is the main reason for many investors including those in tourism are interested in in the sport.
“Football vitalizes the tourism sector and increases patronage of hotels, restaurants, transportation, nightclubs, visit to tourist sites and all other tourism sectors which in return generates revenue and redistributes income,” he stated.
GFA President, Mr. Kurt Okraku said football and tourism have a symbiotic relationship when it comes to their promotion. “Football promotes tourism, and tourism promotes football,” he declared.
He also revealed that the launch of the initiative kick-starts activities leading to the reopening of the 2020/2021 football season.
Dignitaries present at the ceremony included; the President of the Ghana Football Association Mr. Kurt Edwin Okraku, Member of the Black Stars Committee, Alhaji Abu Alhasan Jones, Deputy CEO Operations-GTA , Mr. Ekow Sampson.
Others included, General Secretary of the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana, Mr. Solomon Thompson, the Deputy General Secretary of Confederation of African Football, Mr. Anthony Baffour, General Secretary- GFA, Prosper Harrison Addo, and the Deputy General Secretary-GFA, Mr. Alex Asante.
Other officials include; Former Black Star Player: Yusif Chibsah, the Manager for Product Development and Investment (GTA), Mr. Ben Anane-Nsiah, Manager for Research Monitoring and evaluation (GTA), Mr. Spencer Doku, Manager for Operations (GTA), Mr. Michael Kpingbi, Manager for Corporate Affairs (GTA): Rev. Jones Aruna Nelson, Director of Communications, GFA, Henry Asante Twum and Representatives of Decathlon Ghana.
