A total of 64 events and activities have been officially endorsed for the first batch of this year’s “December In GH” celebration. Now in its sixth year, “December In GH” has solidified its position as Ghana’s premier tourism attraction during the final quarter of the year, drawing thousands of visitors to participate in a wide array of events from November through to early January.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony held yesterday at the Osu Castle Gardens, Deputy CEO – General Services of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Ben Anane Nsiah, emphasised the campaign’s significant impact. He remarked that “December In GH,” which was “deliberately crafted as part of the Year of Return and Beyond the Return,” has achieved remarkable successes for the country’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
According to Mr Anane Nsiah, the campaign harnesses Ghana’s “cultural vibrancy” in areas such as music, food, and arts to attract people from all walks of life to Ghana during the festive season. He highlighted that within the hospitality and accommodation space, for example, five-star hotels experience a 99.6% occupancy rate, with the average length of stay by visitors increasing to 17 days during the “December In GH” period.
Looking ahead to this year’s celebration, Mr Anane Nsiah assured attendees that 2024 would bring “another grand, interesting celebration that will propel and project Ghana the way we want it.”
GTA CEO Akwasi Agyeman, who unveiled the endorsed events, explained that the Secretariat and the Steering Committee of Beyond The Return had received 95 submissions during the open window for endorsement. Following a rigorous and thorough vetting process, 64 events were selected, while the remaining submissions were advised to address specific challenges that caused them to fall short of the selection criteria.
Mr Agyeman noted that the criteria were based on the credibility of the events, alignment with the pillars of Beyond The Return, and the capacity of event organisers to effectively execute the events, particularly concerning security, venue, and other logistical provisions.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, also addressed the gathering, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to supporting “December In GH.” He stressed the significance of the initiative to Ghana’s tourism fortunes, noting that it was a major contributor to the $3.8 billion in tourism revenue generated last year.
“December In GH is ‘a big deal’,” Mr Egyapa Mercer stated, underscoring the need for all stakeholders to collaborate in making it even bigger and more successful. “For us,” he added, “December In GH is more than just a festive season; it celebrates everything Ghanaian—our culture, music, food and hospitality. It’s a celebration of the indomitable spirit and heritage of our country.”
The Beyond The Return Secretariat is currently accepting event submissions for the second batch, with the submission window remaining open until 16th September.
The list of the endorsed events can be accessed here.
