The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has partnered with AFRICA’s BRAIN BANK® Global to support a six-day international summit in September, culminating in the groundbreaking of a proposed Historic Medical City in Ada.
The collaboration places the ambitious project at the intersection of healthcare, tourism, investment and development, while highlighting Ghana’s growing efforts to position itself as a destination for medical tourism and purpose-driven international engagement.
The 7th Annual Summit, Charity Ball and Medical City Groundbreaking will take place from September 3 to 8 in Accra and Ada under the theme, “Africa’s Greatest Wealth, Its People; Restoring Africa’s Health Capital.”
At the heart of the programme is the proposed Medical City, conceived as an integrated healthcare, education, research, innovation and economic development ecosystem. The project is expected to expand access to affordable, specialised and technology-enabled healthcare while creating opportunities for investment and skills development.
GTA Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Houadjeto, said the partnership demonstrates the broader role tourism can play in attracting investment and advancing development.
“Summit, Charity Ball, and Historic Medical City Groundbreaking present a powerful opportunity to welcome the world to Ghana while demonstrating the transformative possibilities that emerge when tourism, healthcare, investment, and development work together,” she said.
The summit is expected to attract government officials, investors, healthcare professionals, corporate executives, development partners, philanthropists and members of the African Diaspora.
Rev. Dr. Pam Fomunung, Visionary, Chief Executive Officer and Group Chair of AFRICA’s BRAIN BANK® Global, described the GTA’s involvement as a significant endorsement of Ghana’s ambitions in healthcare, tourism and investment.
She said the proposed Medical City is intended to go beyond healthcare infrastructure, with the potential to stimulate medical tourism, create jobs, deepen Diaspora engagement and contribute to national economic growth.
The proposed development will focus on areas including specialised healthcare services, medical education and professional training, advanced diagnostic and surgical systems, digital healthcare, telemedicine, research and international medical collaboration.
According to the organisers, the project could also generate opportunities for local businesses and service providers while supporting workforce development, Diaspora knowledge transfer, investment, hospitality and medical-tourism activities.
The programme opens on September 3 with a homecoming welcome reception in Accra. This will be followed on September 4 by a Business-to-Business Market and community awards.
A symposium focused on Africa’s health capital, alongside a red-carpet summit and awards gala, is scheduled for September 5.
Activities on September 6 will include a Billionaire Breakfast Brunch and beach retreat, while September 7 will feature the Medical City groundbreaking and a tour of Greater Accra. The programme concludes on September 8 with a heritage visit to Cape Coast and Elmina castles.
The organisers are inviting businesses and investors across healthcare, tourism, pharmaceuticals, construction, finance, technology, logistics, real estate, infrastructure and related sectors to participate in the summit and explore potential opportunities arising from the initiative.
The African Diaspora is also a key constituency for the programme, with organisers highlighting the potential contribution of Diaspora expertise, investment, professional networks and philanthropic support, alongside opportunities to reconnect with Ghana’s cultural and historical heritage.
Mrs. Houadjeto described the initiative as an opportunity with significance beyond the immediate programme.
“This is more than an event. It is a legacy venture that has the potential to create opportunities, attract international attention, strengthen communities, and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s healthcare future,” she said.
The partnership comes as Ghana continues to broaden its tourism proposition beyond traditional cultural and leisure travel to include conferences, investment, business events and other forms of purpose-driven engagement.
For the GTA, the proposed Medical City represents an opportunity to demonstrate how tourism can connect with other sectors of the economy to attract international visitors, capital and expertise.
The project will ultimately test whether the convergence of tourism, healthcare and Diaspora capital can be translated into a sustainable, long-term development initiative with benefits extending beyond the medical sector.
