The Wangara community once again celebrated the Kurubi Festival in Kintampo, Bono East Region this past week.  The events opened on 22nd November and came to a close with a grand durbar on Saturday 27th November.  The program was well attended and this year’s theme for the festival was ‘Promoting Domestic Tourism and Fostering National Cohesion Through Festival’.  

The vision of promoting domestic tourism aligned with the domestic tourism campaign that was launched earlier this year.  Digniataries in attendance included; Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, Presidential Coordinator for Zongo and Inner City Development, Hon. Ben Abdallah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Samuel Abu Jinapor ,  Former Minister for Energy/MP for Yapei-Kosorgu, Hon. John Abu John Abu Jinapor, Savanna Regional Minister Hon. Saeed Muhazu Jibril, CEO Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, DCE for Kintampo South, Hon Opoku Nyame, Regional Director, Ghana Tourism Authority, Joseph Appiah-Agyei, Municipal Coordinating Director, Kintampo, Thaddeus Zaasan, M.P. Kintampo North, Hon Joseph Kwame Kumah, NPP Consituency Chairman, Mr. Abulakari Saddique, NDC Constituency Chairman Mohammed Alhassan and Kintampo Divisional Commander, ACP Francis Enor.

The Kurubi Festival is rooted in the culture and religious traditions of the Wangara people.  It was celebrated in Kintampo, which is known as being the centre of Ghana for trade between the northern and southern parts of the country. They use the festival as a way to give thanks to God and to also remember their ancestors who migrated there.

It’s official, the Double Decker City Tour Coach will be operating for the general public starting this week. The tours are a collaboration of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) to create tours of the city of Accra using the double decker bus to experience Accra in a new way. The tours are another initiative to promote regional and domestic tourism similar to the ongoing See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana, Feel Ghana, Stay Home Discover Ghana, and Snap and Win Campaigns that are promoting tourism through culture and creative arts.

The Accra City Tour will showcase Accra to Ghanaians and international travellers through historical and cultural sites and iconic buildings an places. The tours will subsequently be extended to other Regional capitals across the country over the course of time.

The bus will depart daily from the Accra Tourist Information Centre with two available time slots; 9am-11am and 1pm-3pm. Fees to board the tours will be GH¢ 60.00 for adults, GH¢ 30.00 for SHS/Tertiary students, and GH¢ 20.00 for Basic students. For those interested in hiring the entire bus for two hours to use on the approved routes, the fee is GH¢ 3000.00 and should be done by contacting GTA.

For more information on bookings please contact the following numbers: +233 307 007 100, +233 596 617 976, or +233 243 146 864.

By: Ivy Prosper