The chief executive officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyeman, has said about 90 events have so far been registered for the “ December In GH activities.
According to the Ministry for Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Year of Return initiative raked in tourism receipts amounting to $3.3 billion in 2019.
Appearing on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday, November 4, 2024, Agyeman said the authority is projecting 1.2 million visits for the event this year.
“In 2019, we started with 36 events. Last year we had about 180 events signed up, this year it’s dropped down again to about 90 because a lot of event organisers are not too sure whether they want to have their events.
“This year they feel corporate Ghana is not spending as much on sponsorship, so we have to do a lot of engagements with the private sector to convince them why this is going to work. So far so good, we have seen some strong interest from groups that have come in…and I believe we will still have a good year. ”
He added, “In all the numbers are also looking good for us, by the end of the third quarter, were close to 900,000 and so we are very sure we probably get 1.2 million.”
About Year of Return
The Year of Return is an initiative by the Akufo-Addo government, focused on encouraging African diasporas to specifically travel to Ghana to reconnect with their root and possibly settle and invest in the continent.
It was launched in September 2018. The initiative saw an array of celebrities across the globe making their way into Ghana to explore, learn and appreciate their roots, as well as unite with Africans on the continent.
Steve Harvey, Nicole Ari Parker, Diggy Simmons, Micheal Jai White, Ludacris, Cardi B, and Bozoma Saint John were among a host of celebrities who visited Ghana during the period.
About ‘Beyond The Return
Beyond the Return” is a follow-up to the successful “Year Of Return” Ghana 2019’ campaign which commemorated the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of the first recorded enslaved Africans in Jamestown Virginia in 1619.
The landmark campaign also celebrated the resilience of the African over the past 400 years and welcomed all people of African origin to return to Africa especially Ghana.
Beyond the Return – is a 10-year project under the theme, “A decade of African Renaissance – 2020-2030” and will be built on 7 pillars.
Seven Pillars
1. Experience Ghana: Inviting the global African family to visit and experience Ghana’s culture, warmth, and rhythm.
2. Invest in Ghana: Creating special investment programs and easing business processes for the diaspora.
3. Diaspora Pathways to Ghana: Simplifying travel experiences through visa acquisition and diaspora visa institutions.
4. Celebrate Ghana: Fostering national consciousness through cultural festivals and domestic tourism.
5. Brand Ghana: Promoting Ghana as a leading tourism destination and hub for African renaissance.
6. Give Back to Ghana: Encouraging community service and giving.
7. Promote Pan-African Heritage & Innovation: Developing pilgrimage tourism infrastructure around historic sites.
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