Ghana’s Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal has revealed that as of Monday, 25th October, 2021, a total of GHC30 million ($4,909,456) has been given out to various businesses within the tourism sector as support in the wake of Coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking at a media engagement to announce events for this year’s December In Gh on Monday, the Minister said, “As of today, Government of Ghana through that World Bank, has disbursed about GHC30 million to support businesses in the tourism, arts and culture space. We intend to disburse GHC55 million by the middle of next month to support the recovery of tourism sector players in this country.”
He also disclosed that Ghana lost about GHC8 billion tourism earnings over one and half years due to the pandemic and that due to government’s interventions, tourism numbers and revenues were gradually picking up.
Dr. Awal stated that in December, Ghana would launch a tourism promotion initiative in USA. “I am leading the team from GTA to launch Destination Ghana in Los Angeles and New York, this would help us attract many people from now to March next year.”
He emphasized government’s goal of making Ghana the number tourism destination in West Africa, adding that in addition to improving visitor sites and attractions, a number of other projects were currently being worked on. They include the reopening of the National Gallery Museum and renovation of cultural centres.
“The National Gallery Museum which has been closed for eight years now will be opened to visitors on December 28 and come next year, we’re renovating five Cultural Centres across the country and we would renovate all the Cultural Centres within the next two years. We are doing this because, we believe that without good cultural assets, there can’t be effective tourism,” Dr. Awal asserted.
Story by: Samuel Obeng Appah
