The inaugural New York International Travel Show officially opened its doors yesterday, Friday October 28th at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan. The event runs the 28th-30th October and the theme this year is “The Future of Travel”. After over two and a half years of the travel industry being disrupted because of the global pandemic, industry players are ready for what’s in store for the future.

Ghana Tourism Authority under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture has a booth at the event showcasing all that Ghana has to offer and promoting the ‘Destination Ghana’ campaign launched by the ministry earlier this year. Ghana continues to be a destination of choice for travel in West Africa and it’s expected that numbers continue to grow for international arrivals for the last two months of the year. This, as National Geographic just named Ghana as one of the best places for travel in 2023.

“It has been a successful day so far at the travel show,” said Annabelle McKenzie, Director of the Beyond the Return Secretariat. “We’ve engaged with several people who were intrigued by what our country has to offer. Some were surprised to learn that Ghana has beaches and opportunities to experience paragliding, hiking mountains and exploring nature. Some said they only knew about the country’s historical ties to the trans-Atlantic slave trade.” Ghana’s culture is also a big attraction with special interest in visits to the Ashanti Kingdom and experiencing traditional dance and music across the country. A cultural troupe performed at the travel show, giving attendees a glimpse into Ghana’s culture.

The last day for the travel show is tomorrow and the team expects plenty of visitors to their booth at the event.

By: Ivy Prosper

The eighteenth edition of Ghana Party in the Park was officially launched by the Akwaaba Group on 7th June at the British High Commissioner Residence in Accra. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday 16th July in London.  The CEO of Akwaaba Group, Dennis Tawiah said they anticipate a successful event especially with the support they’ve received from both the private and public sector this year.  Partners for the upcoming festival include Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), EXIM Bank, Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), and KGL Foundation, among others.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey commented on the impact Tawiah has made in the entertainment industry when it comes to selling Ghana to the world for over two decades. His contribution to putting Ghana on the map has been recognized by many over the years and his work has also contributed to encouraging people to travel to Ghana every year.

 “We’re here today to launch the forthcoming ‘Party in the Park’ in London. It is the opportunity to sell Ghana. Our food, our fashion, our music, film…our artwork,” Hon. Okraku-Mantey said. The deputy minister also mentioned the significance of the recent presidential launch of the Destination Ghana campaign encouraging continued engagement with Ghana through tourism. “Please be ambassadors and tell the whole world that you come from the centre of the world…Which is Ghana, more precisely, Tema.”

Ghana Party in the Park is celebrated as one of the biggest annual outdoor festivals for the Ghanaian community in the diaspora.  The event is organised by the Akwaaba Group UK and this year has received great support.  It’s expected to attract at least 10,000 attendees to celebrate Ghana through culture, food, fashion and music.  

“The Ghana Party in the Park event is an important social fixture for the Ghanaian community in the UK, also mainland Europe and globally,” said the Deputy CEO of GIPC Yaw Amoateng Afriyie, who said he has participated in the event on many occasions. “It showcases the best of Ghanaian culture, arts, and food.”  He noted that it’s become such an important event that has enjoyed many years of successful engagement and the bringing together of the Ghanaian community. 

In past years major artists have performed at the event including Sarkodie, Fuse ODG, Mr. Eazi, Stonebwoy and more.  This year’s lineup is yet to be announced. Tickets for the event can be purchased online through the Ghana Party in the Park website www.gpitp.com/tickets.

By: Ivy Prosper

The Ghana Tourism Authority, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, has joined forces with one of the biggest cultural brands to come out of Ghana; Afrochella. Yesterday, the team behind Afrochella signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Ghana Tourism Authority to continue promoting Ghana to the world through collaborative efforts that will encourage travellers to choose Ghana as their preferred holiday destination.

Afrochella has been a major event contributing to the growth of Ghana’s tourism industry and a changemaker when it comes to changing the narrative of Africa. The festival highlights the culture of Africa through music, art, fashion, food, dance and installations that promote all things Africa.

The Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, said this partnership would not only serve to promote the fun and leisure activities and experiences, but also encourage opportunities for trade and investment in Ghana. “Since the inception of the Afrochella festival six years ago, you have demonstrated a lot and we know that you can achieve this target,” the minister said in reference to the team helping support the tourism ministry’s goal of 2 million tourists coming to Ghana annually. “Our current image alone makes people want to come into the country, so support us with your network to bring in these people to have fun, leisure, do business and invest.” The minister pledged to give the team the needed support to help achieve the targets.

Abdul Karim Abdulla, one of the co-founders of Afrochella expressed his appreciation for the support of the tourism ministry and Ghana Tourism Authority in their vision. “In 2019 we saw about 16, 500 people [attending Afrochella],” Abdulla said. He announced that this year the festival would be two days and have the goal of attracting 20, 000 attendees this time. “We have a series of events not only to get people to come back to Ghana, but to also invest themselves in Ghana, in the people of Ghana and in the community as well,” he told Minister Awal and CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman. The other members of the Afrochella team include Ken Agyapong Jr., Edward Asafu Adjaye Kobina, Alvin Bekoe and Vernell Akyeampong.

After the official signing of the MoU, the team were inaugurated as official Goodwill Tourism Ambassadors for Ghana and decorated with the Beyond the Return official Kente sash by the minister. Everyone is looking forward to the positive impact that will come from this partnership in the coming years.

By: Ivy Prosper

The Borough of Brooklyn has named a street in Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) after Ghana, highlighting the country’s leading role in building bridges amongst the global African Family. Bed-Stuy, has been a centre of African-American culture since the early 20th century and has been home to several cultural icons.

Making the announcement and the presentation at a “Destination Ghana” event at Weeksville Heritage Center, Councilman Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., on behalf of the people of Bed-Stuy and the Borough of Brooklyn, commended Ghana for the Year of Return initiative and the follow up Beyond the Return project.

The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture , Hon. Dr Ibrahim Awal and the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman have been staking Ghana’s claim and engaging several business and opinion leaders in the city of New York to promote the destination .

The street to be named Bed-Stuy/Ghana Way, cements the strategic partnership between Ghana and Brooklyn. Dr. Awal in thanking the Council member, threw an invitation to the audience made up of politicians, business leaders, clergy and students to build on the goodwill for mutual growth. The CEO, Akwasi Agyeman presented programs lined up this December in Ghana and a proposed Independence trade mission in March 2022.

Eighty five year old Dr. Leonard Jeffries Jr, a well known Pan- Africanist who was in the audience was elated for seeing this day in his lifetime that Ghana will forever be part of the rich history of Bed-Stuy and Brooklyn.