Tourism Ambassadors Embark On Developmental Projects

Ghanaian tourism ambassadors have begun to embark on various projects with the objective of ensuring growth in the tourism industry in the country.

Less than a year after their inauguration by the Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Catherine Afeku, a number of the tourism ambassadors have embarked on projects with far-reaching positive consequences for the growth of the sector.

The ambassadors of the sector who are mostly celebrities, according to the Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyemang, have each submitted proposal for projects, some of which have already taken off.

He explained that Reggie Zippy and Bollie Babeface who emerged as runners-up on the X Factor in 2015 are embarking a project dubbed 'Home Coming', a project which will make use of their phenomenal following on social media to invite their millions of fans to join them to their 'home' in Ghana.

Mr Agyemang indicated that the two are working to collaborate with UK’s leading black entertainment television station, Allied Broadcasting Network (ABN Radio & TV), to promote 'Home Coming', with authentic but attractive aspects of Ghanaian culture and arts.

The CEO also mentioned Sam Okyere, a young Ghanaian in South Korea described by 'Asian Boss' magazine as “the most famous black man in Korea, whose project is to establish a 'Ghana Day' in July every year in Korea. The idea is to drive the Korean population to Ghanaian cuisine, Ghanaian wear and Ghanaian arts.

He added that Michael Owusu Addo, known as Sarkodie, has selected for his ambassadorial project to establish a 'Master Class' for artistes on how to position themselves and their brands on the market.

Mr Agyeman averred that a project by Agya Koo with Abeiku Santana's Kaya Tours to organise taxi drivers for training as 'tour guides' and provide them information about our tourist attractions, hotels, among others, would see a direct input in the tourism industry.

“Another Ambassador is Okyeame Kwame, who is also collaborating with Nana Richard Abiona, known as Fuse ODG, to promote the consumption of Ghana cocoa at hospitality facilities across the world,” he added.