Akwasi Agyeman, the CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority has shared some details about the upcoming December festivities in Ghana as he expressed confidence in the tourism sector boosting the country’s economy significantly.
In an interview on Happy 98.9 FM’s “Epa Hoa Daben” socio-political talk show with host BB Brown, Mr. Agyeman indicated that the authority gave endorsements and partnership opportunities to event organizers as part of the “Beyond the Return” initiative.
He also detailed the meticulous process of event selection, he explained, “Since we launched the December in GH in 2019, every year we call for entries for event organizers who have events that align with our Beyond the Return initiatives to register and partner with us.”
He disclosed that the registration process, initiated in June and closed by the end of July, resulted in the endorsement of about 98 events.
Undeterred by the initial number, Agyeman revealed, “We reopened the window in September through to October, and we’ve had additional 78 endorsements, making it about 189 events, and they are all diverse events.”
The CEO emphasized the inclusivity of the festivities, catering to both indigenous people and tourists alike.
Highlighting some of the standout events, Agyeman mentioned notable ones like the Westside Carnival in Takoradi and Sekondi, AfroFuture (previously Afrochella) in Accra, Culture 1 Festival in Tamale and Detty Rave in Accra. Little Havana in Aburi is also on the list among a tall list of other exciting events.
He further assured that the December festivities in Ghana would offer a plethora of options for everyone, including indigenous people, tourists, and the diaspora. With events spanning across the nation, from Takoradi and Sekondi to Accra, Tamale, Kumasi and Aburi, the celebrations promise to be vibrant, diverse and memorable for all attendees.
Meanwhile, the Ghana government through the Transport Ministry has announced the reintroduction of the visa-on-arrival for passengers to Ghana during this festive season.
The decision, according to the Ministry, was made in consultation with the Foreign Affairs, Interior, Tourism Ministries, Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Tourism Authority.
The initiative is to support the government’s 10-year project “Beyond The Return”, which gives Africans in the diaspora the opportunity to “connect with their roots.”
The initiative was first introduced in 2022, last year during the festive season as the country witnessed a huge number of tourists visiting from all over the world.
