Adidome can become the centre of the world if tourism potentials are exploited – H.E Amb.Prof Aryee

Vanuatu Trade Commissioner to Ghana, H.E Ambassador Prof. Hugh Keku Aryee greeting dignitaries at the 75th Hogbetsotso Festival held at Adidome on Saturday 13th December 2025

The Vanuatu Trade Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Ambassador Prof. Hugh Keku Aryee has declared that Adidome and the wider Mafi area can become “the centre of the world” if its vast tourism potentials are properly developed and marketed, describing the community as one of the most naturally endowed locations he has visited.

Speaking as the Special Guest at the 2025 Mafi Hogbetsotso Festival, on Saturday 13th December at Adidome, Prof. Aryee said the cultural heritage, natural environment and riverine landscape of Mafi place it in a unique position to emerge as a major tourism destination in Ghana and beyond.

The festival, which was held under the theme, Fostering Unity, Peace and Love for Development, brought together traditional authorities, opinion leaders, youth groups and development partners, with a rich and colourful display of the people of Mafi and other parts of the Volta Region.

According to Prof Aryee, a recent familiarisation tour with his media team across several communities in Mafi revealed enormous but largely untapped tourism opportunities that could transform livelihoods and attract both domestic and international visitors.

“This morning, we were taken to Avakpe Dome, and I can say here on authority that if we can redevelop this community, it can become the centre of the world,” he stated. “The tourism potential in the Mafi community cannot be found anywhere I have visited.”

Prof. Aryee said his visit to communities across the Volta River was emotional, noting that having attended Sogakofe Secondary School more than three decades ago but he had not visited Mafi until recently. He expressed concern about the level of neglect but said it had strengthened his resolve to prioritise development in Mafi.

He explained that tourism development in the area would not only create jobs but also preserve culture, attract investment and restore pride among the people. As part of efforts to promote Mafi globally, Prof. Aryee announced that he and his media team are putting together a documentary dedicated to showcasing the area’s history, culture, people and development potential.

“I have decided to put Mafi on the world market, and we are putting together a documentary,” he said. “Already, my diaspora partners and business conglomerates are sending messages asking when they can come to Mafi.”

The diplomat said the documentary, coupled with strategic media exposure, would position Mafi as a must-visit destination for tourism investors, cultural enthusiasts and development partners. He revealed that, based on the records available to him, the next Hogbetsotso Festival in 2026 can be a landmark event that could attract Ghanaians from all parts of the country to converge in Mafi for a major celebration.

Beyond tourism promotion, Prof. Aryee pledged to use his international networks to attract investment into Mafi. He said investors engaging Ghana through the Vanuatu Trade Commission and allied institutions would be encouraged to consider Mafi as a priority destination.

“I will work with the Mafi Traditional Authority, the Traditional Council, the Member of Parliament and the Municipal Chief Executive to bring massive transformation to the people of Mafi,” he assured.

Prof. Aryee, who was adopted into the Mafi State in June 2025, said the honour placed a responsibility on him to contribute meaningfully to the community’s development. He stressed that his commitment to Mafi was not ceremonial but practical, adding that development required long-term planning, transparency and partnership with traditional leaders.

He urged the people of Mafi to embrace unity, peace and love as the foundation for sustainable tourism and investment growth, noting that investors are attracted to stable and cohesive communities.

“As we celebrate Hogbetsotso, let us remember that unity binds us, peace allows development to thrive, and love ensures that progress benefits everyone,” he added.