Patrons would be required to show proof vaccination in order to participate or be admitted to any events sanctioned by the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Beyond the Return Secretariat as part of December In Gh.
Participants would therefore have to flash their COVID-19 vaccination cards to gain entry into event venues.
This was made known by the CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman during a media briefing on activities and events for this year’s December In Gh tourism initiative at the Accra Tourist Information Centre today.
Agyeman said the new requirement is an addition to existing protocols which are geared towards ensuring the health safety of event organisers and patrons as COVID-19 lingers on.
“Social distancing will be required and enforced within event venues so we are in touch with Ghana Police Service to ensure that these protocols are observed and that if there are breaches, because there are laws on COVID protocols, they would be able to arrest and prosecute if need be,” he disclosed.
The Beyond the Return Coordinator also admonished event organisers to as much as possible, issue contactless tickets including sale of event tickets online.
December In Gh was launched in 2019 as a new tourism product to drive people to Ghana which has fast become a hotspot of festivities and parties during Christmas and New Year.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal expressed hope that the initiative will help bolster Ghana’s recovery from the COVID-19 which dwindled tourism numbers and receipts last year.
He hinted that: “The last quarter of this year is very exciting for tourism; we are expecting about 150,000 tourism arrivals between now and December mostly from America, Nigeria, UK, Germany, China, The Netherlands and that is why we need to reinforce the protocols together with the COVID-19 Taskforce.”
He added that Ghana’s tourism has shown positive signs of rebounding with tourist arrivals expected to reach 600000 by close of December; a figure, the Minister said represented 100% increase from 2020.
So far about 10 events have been approved for December In Gh. They include: Afrochella, Polo Beach Club, Rhythms on the Run way, Taste of Ghana, Kwanzaa in Ghana and Diaspora Transition. The rest are: Takoradi Festival, 100 years celebration and commemoration of Yaa, Asantewaa and GUBA AWARDS.
The full list of events and activities are expected to be announced in the early November.
Story by: Samuel Obeng Appah
