Volta Premier Fm
By: Enoch Nyadzor
The value of tourism towards the socio cultural, economic and political growth cannot be overemphasized. To this end, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) advocates for awareness among local and international communities to better appreciate the value of tourism to growth.
The 2021 World Tourism Day, was marked at Hohoe to showcase the numerous tourism potentials of the Volta Region and Ghana to the world. The theme for the 2021 UNWTO celebration was “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”. In line with the theme, many activities were carried out to showcase the tourism sector’s unique development to the stakeholders that participated in the celebration.
The event was graced by the Deputy Minister for Tourism who stood in for the Minister for Tourism, the Chief Executive Officer (GTA), Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, Volta Regional Minister, Hon. Archibald Yao Letsa, Member of Parliament for Hohoe Constituency, Hon. John Peter Amewu and Chiefs from various parts of the Constituency and region.
Speaking at the celebration, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Mark Okraku Mantey highlighted the need for participatory approach to creating and sharing tourism wealth, for poverty reduction, decency in living standards and livelihood security. This according to the deputy minister means creating decent employments through inclusive economic growth, skilled and vibrant workforce and ensuring that there are statistics and behind every number there is a person. It also means unlocking the potential of tourism ecosystem, the value chain and investment application for more inclusive and sustainable growth in traditional marginalized communities with huge tourism and other resources.
The deputy minister further called for more tourism education. This he said would enable everyone appreciate the potentials the sector offers and tap into these potentials. According to the Deputy Minister, every individual can benefit from these potentials. They can only fully appreciate the value of tourism and use it to improve living conditions if they are well educated.
Hon. John Peter Amewu (MP), thanked the GTA for the investments in the Tourism potentials of the Hohoe Constituency. He further called for increased investment in ecotourism activities. He identified that, ecotourism investment has the potential to drive the agenda for development. It has the ability to create employment, generate revenue and reduce poverty in and around the communities.
The celebration which started in the 1980’s is aimed at showing off the unique ability of tourism; which drives economic development, preserves and upholds culture and heritage across borders.
The celebration begun on Saturday 25th September, 2021 with radio discussions, “Afadjato Hiking challenge” on 26th September, and climaxed with a grand durbar of Chiefs and people in the Hohoe Municipality on 27th September, 2021.
The Volta Region, the heart of tourism in Ghana boasts of unique tourist sites such as Atorkor slave market, Woe Light House, Aborigines Beach Resort, Emancipation Beach, Fort Prinzenstein, Afadjato, Mount Gemi, Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary etc.
