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WORLD TOURISM DAY 2011
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has set aside 27th of September each year to commemorate World Tourism Day throughout the world.
This year’s event is under the theme “Tourism Linking Cultures”, an indication of the symbiotic relationship between tourism and culture, and how tourism could be used as a vehicle to promote peaceful coexistence and mutual trust among people with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and orientations.
In Ghana, Regional Celebrations will be held nationwide, with the National event taking place at the Tafi-Atome Monkey Sanctuary in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region.
Highlights of the celebrations include a tour of tourist attraction sites within the Kpando/Hohoe circuit on Saturday, 24th September, climaxing with a Grand Durbar at Tafi-Atome on Tuesday, September 27th. Side attractions include a Traditional Gastronomy (food fair), Arts and Crafts Exhibition, and Cultural Performances to showcase the unique cultural heritage of the Ghana.
We invite Ghanaians, especially policy makers, stakeholders in the industry, and potential investors to take time off their work schedules to take part in the celebrations so as to appreciate the potential benefits of the sector to the national economy.
It is worth noting that last year alone, the tourism sector contributed over $1.8 Billion to the national economy, an equivalent of 6.2% of GDP. It also plays a critical role in the conservation of the environment and our cultural heritage. Given the needed priority attention and capital injection, tourism can become the number one and the most sustainable foreign exchange earner for the country, from its current 4th place after gold, cocoa, and foreign remittances.
On the occasion of the celebration of World Tourism Day 2011, the Ministry of Tourism appeals to Corporate Ghana and individuals to support the event. We also take this opportunity to acknowledge RLG Communications, Kasapreko Company Ltd, Golden Tulip, Valley Pallacio (Peki), and Grand View Hotels, the Hohoe Municipal Assembly, and the Kpando District Assembly for their sponsorship towards this year’s World Tourism Day celebrations.
Come let’s celebrate World Tourism Day 2011: Welcome! MIAWOE ZOR!!!
SOD CUTTING CEREMONY
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A sod cutting ceremony has been organized by the Ministry for work to commence for the construction of the Accra Visitor and Tourist Information Centre. The project is estimated to cost 1.2 million dollars with funding coming from the Ghana and Japan government.
The centre will serve both local and foreign tourists in the provision of relevant information on Ghana and its tourist’s attractions and also generate revenue for developmental projects in the country.
MINISTRY OF TOURISM DONATES BOOKS TO NIMA CLUSTER OF SCHOOLS
As part of efforts to promote the habit of reading in school Children in the country the Ministry of Tourism with the collaboration of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)ST-EP Foundation donated books over five thousand (5000) to the Nima Cluster of Schools in Accra. The project dubbed the Thank You Library project is the 20th in Ghana and the 75th in Africa.
The project is part of the Ministry’s effort with the active involvement of the ST-EP Foundation to aide developing countries to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by the year 2015.
Present at the function were the Minister of Tourism, Honorable Sabah Zita Okaikoi, the Deputy Minister of Tourism , Honorable Kwabena Owusu Acheampong, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism , Mrs. Dina Hammond, the Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board , Mr. Julius Debrah , Ambassador DHO Young-Shim, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Member of the UN MDG (Millennium Development Goals) Advocacy Group,a delegation from South Korea and the leadership of the Muslim Community in Nima.
EMANCIPATION DAY 2010
This year’s Emancipation 2010 celebration was from 21st July-August 1 2010. The event was organized by the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism.
Some of the activities that marked the occasion included a Reverential Night at the Cape Coast Caste, a Re-enactment of the crossing of the Assin River and other activities at Assin Praso and a colorful Grand Durbar at Assin Manso to climax the event.The celebration was under the theme “Rejuvenating the hopes and aspirations of the African youth”.
EMANCIPATION DAY LAUNCH 2010
This year’s Emancipation Day celebration was launched in Cape Coast at the historic Cape Coast Castle on Thursday 13th May 2010. The ceremony was characterized by a colourful cultural display and a dramatic sketch depicting a slave raid by members of the Ghana Dance Company.
Present at the ceremony were Nana Kwame Nkyi, Omanhene of Assin-Apemenim Traditional Area and Nana Agyirba, Queen mother of Cape Coast, Hon. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central Regional Minister, Hon. Kwabena Owusu Acheampong, Deputy Minister of Tourism. Others were Mrs. Dina Hammond, Chief Director, Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Julius Debrah, Executive Director, Ghana Tourist Board, Mr. Rabi Kohein, Chairman of the PANAFEST Foundation and Mr. Nick Opoku, Vice President of the Ghana-Caribbean Association. Also in attendance were students, tourists, the media and a cross-section of the public.
The month long celebration, which is expected to remind Africans both at home, and the Diaspora of the atrocious trafficking of human beings in the 16th and 20th centuries, will take place between July – August 1st 2010 under the Theme ‘Rejuvenating The Dreams And Aspirations of the African Youth’.
This year’s Emancipation celebrations will include a wreath-laying ceremony to honour three illustrious sons of Pan-Africanism - W.E.B Du Bois, George Padmore and Kwame Nkrumah. There will be re-enactment of aspects of the Slave Trade where captured slaves sealed their doom - a point of no return for them. There will also be durbars and reverential nights at various places; what do you know quiz competition for basic schools; public lectures throughout the ten regional capitals and a retracing of the slave route in Ghana.
GHANA POLICY FAIR 2010 (27th April- 1st May)
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When the first ever Ghana Policy Fair took off at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC), it brought all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) together to showcase Government’s activities; it saw a huge attendance by people from all walks of life, including foreigners and potential investors alike. The fair offered Ghanaians the opportunity to evaluate policies being implemented to determine their relevance to society and the nation as a whole.
The fair which was aimed at making open the operations of all MDA’s to Ghanaians and to enable the citizenry engage with the leadership of those institutions to appreciate their policies, programmes and activities also created an avenue for brainstorming on critical national development issues such as initiative in the oil and gas sector, education, health, investment, tourism among others. Bringing the populace aboard government’s Better Ghana Agenda and driving investment and Public Private Partnership in the implementation of some policies/programmes of government was also part of the objectives of the fair.
Modern exhibition stalls which were installed in the main foyer, the ground floor wings and the first floor enhanced the prospects of the fair as exhibitors showcased their policies, projects and programmes for public viewing.
The Ministry’s ‘Tourism Day’ which brought special attention to its stand with the unique cultural display and the sampling of rich local Ghanaian dishes attracted high media coverage to publicize the various programs and activities held. The occasion created an avenue for public interactions with the Minister of Tourism as she explained the Ministry’s operations via pictorial as well as video presentations to give the general public a more realistic view of government activities
The fair was generally successful as most participants lauded the concept and suggested that it should be sustained although it came at a short notice.
5TH ANNUAL PARAGLIDING FESTIVAL, APRIL 2010
Official Website: www.ghanaparagliding.com
In just a few short years, the Ghana Paragliding Festival has become an integral part of the annual Easter celebrations, which is one of the most popular holidays in many regions throughout the country.
The festival attracts both Ghanaians and foreigners alike for more than 3 days of spectacular aerial fun, ceremony and music.
The history of the festival goes back to March 2003 when, as the new Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, Mr. Jake Tonka Obetsebi-Lamptey visited the Kwahu ridge as part of his familiarization tour of the country, and by chance crossed paths with the festival's organizer, Walter Neser. The first Ghana Paragliding Festival, in 2005, was launched by H.E.Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.
For the last 5 years, tandem pilots have gathered from around the world to fly local Ghanaian spectators and foreign visitors. The festival is open to solo pilots as well; and boasts consistent flying conditions, that begin around mid morning and remain soarable until late in the day. The thermals are consistently large and mild, and offer a fantastic opportunity for both newer pilots to gain valuable experience and airtime as well as for seasoned pilots who want to fly for hours “stress free”.
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Visiting Ghana 
