Ghana's Tourism Debate: Words, Rebuttals, and the Reality on the Ground

When a politician accuses a ministry of " sitting on their butts," you expect a fiery rebuttal. But behind the politcal jabs lies a deeper truth: Ghana's tourism treasures remain hidden, underdeveloped, and ignored.

The recent exchange between former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, and Ghana's Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr. Mark Okraku Mantey, has sparked an online debate about the state of Ghana's Tourism sector.

Mr. Kennedy Agyapong did not mince words when he accused officials of the Ministry of Tourism of " sitting on their butts" while the nation's rich tourism potential remains idle and untapped. In reponse, Mr. Okraku Mantey fired back, saying " Mr. Kennedy Agyapong should not say that."

While social media users argue over who is right, the real conversation we should be having goes beyond personalities. It's about the facts, figures, and visible progress in our tourism sector.

From my perspective, Mr. Kennedy Agyapong's comments were not out of malice. In fact, they presented an opportunity for the Deputy Minister to share with Ghanaians and the world, what the ministry has achieved so far. How many tourist attraction sites currently exist? How many new potential sites have been discovered? Which ones have been upgraded to international standards? And how many will be developed in the near future?

Equally important, we need to know how many young adults have been trained and employed as tour guides to ensure visitors enjoy a memorable experience. One that would make them eager to return and recommend Ghana to others.

Instead of focusing on rebuttals, Mr. Okraku Mantey could have used the moment to showcase tangible progress: the number of tourists who visited Ghana in recent years, revenue generated from their visits, and projections for 2025 and beyond.

Sadly, the reality on the ground paints a different picture. Many sites, including the beautiful Arkaa Water Falls near Adukrom , the six-in-one Palm Oil Tree at Kwamoso, and the snake coil palm oil tress at Huhunya and Suhum, lack even basic amenities, no washroom for visitors, no shaded rest areas, and no play grounds for children.

The contrast is stark when compared to parks abroad. Take Humberline Park in Toronto,Canada, for example: it offers a children's play area, shaded resting spots for adults, and clean washroom facilities for all basic amenities that make visitor's feel welcome and valued.

If Ghana truly wants to compete on the global tourism stage, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) must go beyond rethoric and ensure these attractions recieve the necessary facelift. The question is not whether Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong's tone was harsh, it's whether his criticism has highlighted truths we can no longer afford to ignore.

Stephen Armah Quaye,
Communication and Media Studies Student.
York University, Toronto-Canada
[email protected]