Jamaican Tourism Investor Pushes Ghana–Caribbean Community Business Exchange in GTA Meeting

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Jamaican tourism entrepreneur and CEO of Asterix Tourism Services Limited, Roy Page, has met with the Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, and members of the authority’s management board as part of his two‑week working visit to Ghana aimed at deepening collaboration between Jamaica and Africa.

The engagement forms part of Mr. Page’s broader mission to launch community‑based business initiatives in Ghana, with Paga in the Upper East Region selected as the first beneficiary community.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Page stressed that his agenda extends beyond tourism promotion.

“Our real reason to be here is to be able to have community businesses. We really want to turn communities into businesses,” he said.

He explained that the initiative draws from the “Village as a Business” model under the Country Style Community Tourism Network, which empowers community members to see themselves as business owners and active participants in local economic development.

Mr. Page also outlined a flagship cultural exchange programme titled “Know Thyself,” designed to reconnect Africans and the diaspora. Under the initiative, 100 Jamaicans—including Maroons, Rastas and Tainos—will visit Ghana to engage chiefs, kings and royal families through music, culture and history, while 100 Ghanaians will undertake a reciprocal trip to Jamaica.

“We want Caribbean persons to come to Africa and Africans to go to the Caribbean. We are starting with Jamaica and Ghana because we believe in models. We want the models to work, and then we can establish it throughout Africa and the Caribbean,” he noted.

He revealed that discussions are underway with airlines to operate a charter flight for the exchange programme, with the first trips expected around Ghana’s 70th anniversary in March, followed by a homecoming event in December 2026 featuring reggae artiste Gramps Morgan.

“In Jamaica, we have strong Maroon communities. They have had meetings and they are already in agreement. They want to come to Ghana,” he added.

Mr. Page emphasised that his focus remains on community development and the execution of tangible projects.

“We really want to execute everything that we mentioned. We want the Caribbean to come to Africa and learn from Africans, and Africans to go to the Caribbean and learn from the Caribbeans, because although we are distance apart, we are still one.”

Mr. Abeiku Aggrey and the GTA board assured him of the authority’s readiness to collaborate with Asterix Tourism Services to deliver impactful experiences under the initiative.

By Prince Fiifi Yorke