Wanderlust Ghana officially launched their ambitious overland expedition on Sunday, September 8th, at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra. Partnering with the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the group which includes, Kwabena Peprah, Kwadwo Saka, Franklin Peters, Richard Anim, Kwame Pepra and Kojo Ntow, are set to embark on a 30,000-kilometer journey that will span Africa, Europe, and the Middle East before returning to Ghana.

Wanderlust Ghana, a collective of adventure enthusiasts and tourism advocates, has already made waves with their incredible road trip from Accra to London in 2023. Now, they are raising the stakes with a more daring expedition across 31 countries in just two months. With a team of six members and three vehicles, they plan to showcase the beauty of Ghana and the African continent, fostering cultural exchange and championing tourism.

Kwabena Peprah, CEO of Wanderlust Ghana, shared his excitement about the journey, stating, “For us, this time around, it’s about making Ghana a tourist destination for most foreigners.” The mission goes beyond the thrill of adventure. It’s about placing Ghana on the global stage, highlighting the country’s rich culture, vibrant history, and immense tourism potential. Peprah acknowledged the challenges they may face, such as car troubles, but emphasized that they embrace these obstacles as part of the experience.

The CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, also expressed his enthusiasm for the expedition. “As they go they will showcase Ghana, our cultural diversity, our heritage and everything that makes us the centre of the world,” he said. He also noted the expedition’s potential to boost Ghana’s tourism visibility. “This adventure will give Ghana mileage in terms of tourism, considering the various media stops they would have at the destinations in other countries,” he said. The collaboration with GTA highlights the importance of this journey not just as an expedition, but as a strategic move to position Ghana as a key player in the global tourism and investment landscape. All their vehicles with be branded with the visitghana.com to create an opportunity for conversation and direct traffic to the site for people to learn about travelling to Ghana.

Wanderlust Ghana’s route will take them through Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Spain, France, and as far as Iraq and Kuwait before returning back to Africa. They’ll pass through iconic cities like Paris and Dubai before concluding their journey in Cape Town, South Africa. The group’s philosophy is to bridge cultures and make meaningful connections across continents, telling stories that showcase Africa’s untapped tourism and investment potential.

“Tourism marketing is not just for people in government,” said Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, “Everyone has a role to play in marketing and selling Ghana.” He wanted everyone there to know how important it was that we each play and key part in promoting Ghana to the world.

As the team embarks on this epic adventure, they carry with them not only a spirit of discovery but also a message of hope and unity. Wanderlust Ghana is committed to highlighting Africa as a destination of beauty, history, and opportunity, proving that the road less traveled can indeed lead to remarkable destinations.

The journey officially begins on September 30, and if their past adventures are anything to go by, Wanderlust Ghana will continue to captivate the world, one kilometer at a time.

NEW YORK, NY – [September 20, 2022] – Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture for Ghana, has announced the official opening of a Tourism and  cultural hub in New York to serve the North American Market and help  promote tourism to Ghana. He made the announcement at the Destination Ghana Networking event that was held in New York City on 18th September 2022.

The event, a collaboration of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre brought together business leaders and leaders of the African diaspora community to network and learn more about the opportunities for tourism, business and investment in Ghana.  The event also served as an opportunity to engage with the community and learn more about what their needs were when travelling to Ghana.

“The U.S. is very important to Ghana in areas of culture and tourism,” Hon. Awal said.  The United States accounts for the largest number of tourists that visit Ghana annually, making them a significant place of marketing to Ghana. “We’re going to open a Cultural and Tourism office in New York next year to serve as the tool and vehicle to drive culture and tourism between the U.S. and Ghana. By March next year it will happen and I can assure you  that it will help facilitate all the issues of our tourism and culture.”

Members of the Ghanaian delegation included, Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Yofi Grant, CEO, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Ekow Sampson, Deputy CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority, Annabelle McKenzie, Director, Beyond the Return Secretariat.

The event was graced by  Rocky Dawuni, Grammy-nominated artist, Barkue Tubman, Chief of Staff of Essence Communications, Jerry Adinkra , Cultural and Tourism Ambassador and  members of the Ghanaian and historical diaspora community. The event was well attended and also featured cultural performances.

“We are building a Ghana brand that will be a hub for tourism and culture in West Africa.

We need your support to build that Ghana brand and drive a lot of tourists from New York to Ghana every year,” Hon Awal said. The Consul General of the Ghana Mission in New York , Ambassador Atta Boafo assured the gathering that the processes of obtaining visas would be simplified and also addressed that Ghanaians abroad could use both their Ghana passport and U.S. passport when travelling to and from Ghana with ease.

Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority highlighted the activities lined up for December in Ghana this year which includes Afrochella, Taste of Ghana,  AfroNation, Little Havanna, Detty Rave amongst others and invited the African Diaspora to be part of it.

The minister also assured everyone that important tourist sites are undergoing renovations and will be modernized to create a better travel experience. Earlier this year the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Museum were closed for renovations.  Hon. Awal said it will reopen next year.  “We will have a fully furnished and modernized Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park by March of next year, ” he said. “The museum is being expanded and refurbished.”

The minister’s announcement was part of the Destination Ghana Networking event in New York.  The Destination Ghana campaign was launched earlier this year in London, U.K. to promote Ghana as a tourism destination worldwide.  Hinged on the fact that Ghana is at the centre of the world, the campaign builds off the strength of Ghana’s Year of Return campaign which encouraged the diaspora to come to Ghana and helped boost international arrivals to over 1.1 million in 2019.

By: Ivy Prosper

The Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal on Tuesday, 19th July, 2022 cut sod for the Rehabilitation and Modernization of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. Among those present were the Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwasi Amoako- Attah, Minister of Information, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman and the Deputy CEO, Operations, GTA, Mr. Ekow Sampson.

It was announced on the 27th of May by the park’s Chief Director, John Yao Agbeko, that the memorial park would be closing for upgrades that are suitable to standards fitting to represent the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The nation’s first president has great significance not only to Ghana, but to all of Africa and the diaspora making his memorial an important piece of his legacy. The rehabilitation project is being funded under the World Bank Project.