Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Abeiku Santana, has described December in GH as more than just a festive line-up of events, insisting it is a broader national, cultural and economic strategy.
Speaking in an interview with Rev Erskine on Myd Morning Radio on Y107.9FM, Abeiku Santana said many people wrongly perceive December in GH as merely a period for entertainment and leisure. “December in GH is not just an event season. That is one fact people are getting wrong,” he stated.
According to him, the initiative is designed to strengthen domestic tourism by creating nationwide awareness of activities across different regions, rather than concentrating celebrations in one location. He noted that the movement of people across cities and regions during the period generates significant economic activity while also encouraging cultural exchange among Ghanaians.
Abeiku Santana explained that the initiative enables citizens and visitors alike to experience the country’s diversity, adding that the cultural interactions foster national cohesion and appreciation of Ghana’s heritage. “People come all the way from Ho, Juapong and the neighbouring communities including Somanya, to attend the event. Food, drinks, clothes, transportation, shops selling groceries, we are all cashing out,” he explained.
December in GH was launched in 2019 by the Ghana Tourism Authority under the then Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, now Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts as part of the Year of Return initiative. It was created to position Ghana as a global tourism destination and to encourage members of the African diaspora to visit the country and reconnect with their roots.
