“Birthright AFRICA is committed to growth of international travel by the young African diaspora to showcase Ghana’s culture and investment potential while deepening the connection between the gateway to Africa and the global diaspora,” said Walla Elsheikh, CEO and Co-Founder of Birthright AFRICA. ‘The Black Highway Birthright Program’ is a 13-day journey that gives the scholars an opportunity to explore their heritage in New York City and then learn their history, culture and ancestral roots as people of African descent once they arrive in Ghana. Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Beyond the Return Secretariat have endorsed their program as it supports the vision of connecting the diaspora with Ghana. It’s part of the larger vision built off the momentum of the ‘Year of Return’ and now Beyond the Return ‘A decade of African Renaissance.’ “We are very excited with our partnership with Birthright AFRICA, which provides opportunities for people to explore their ancestry in Ghana. This particular cohort with Jidenna is significant as it coincides with our Founders’ Day celebration and the launch of our December in GH activities,’ said Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of GTA.

During their experience the young travellers will visit some of Ghana’s key historic sites including the W.E.B. DuBois Centre, Black Star Square, Cape Coast Dungeons and more. They will also have the opportunity to meet with leaders from both the Ghanaian and diaspora community. It’s important for these young people to learn about the business and investment opportunities on the continent of Africa. They will meet with entrepreneurs from various industries including the arts, technology, cocoa farming, fashion and manufacturing. They will gain first-hand knowledge of the innovation that exists in Africa. Not only is this an educational trip, but it’s also a chance for them to unwind and experience the fun side of Ghana. Jidenna will share some of his favourite places to experience the best food, music, festivals and nightlife happening in Ghana. Jidenna, who is on the Executive Board of Birthright AFRICA says that this program, “is a major step for Black people globally and Black Americans…to start to repair, re-heal and reimagine what our identity is as Black people.”

By: Ivy Prosper

The opening ceremony for the Paragliding Festival in Kwahu, Eastern Region yesterday included government officials and traditional leaders to open the festival after a two-year absence because of the covid-19 pandemic. Everyone was very excited for the festival to be back again. Thousands of people travelled from around the world to be in Kwahu for paragliding and a host of other activities happening for the Easter Weekend.

Activities coming over the weekend will include family Easter activities, hiking, exploring, football matches, pool parties and a street carnival. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture with Ghana Tourism Authority have put together a Kwahu Easter Guide with all the details of everything happening over the weekend.

Ghana celebrated World Tourism Day 2021, surrounded by the mountains of the Volta Region just outside Hohoe nestled in the valley a few kilometres from the Wli Waterfalls. People travelled from across the country to experience the Volta Region while commemorating this important international celebration of the tourism sector. The United Nations (UN) designated September 27 as the day to celebrate the tourism industry every year. It’s an industry that employs one in ten people globally and the pandemic has had an impact making it one of the hardest hit industries in the world. Because marginalized communities have suffered the worst effects, the UN decided that this year’s theme would be ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth.’ The UN hopes to support growth and recovery in the sector that will be inclusive of all communities around the world.

Each year a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) chooses a country to officially celebrate the day while others around the world join in the festivities in their respective countries. This year the official day was held in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. The Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal and the CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, were not in attendance at the festivities in Ghana because they were representing at the main event in Côte d’Ivoire.

In Ghana, it was decided to hold the event in the Volta Region, one of the areas that do not receive the same international spotlight as some other regions in Ghana. “The purpose of the celebration this year is to raise awareness of the role of tourism in the international community and to showcase our tourism potentials,” said Minister of Railways Development and MP for Hohoe Constituency, John-Peter Amewu. “Tourism plays a very vital role in the GDP of every country,” he continued. “For countries to develop from one point to another its important that attention be given to tourism.”  He thanked Ghana Tourism Authority for its contributions to uplifting tourist facilities in the area and implored for continued support.

Brand Ambassadors for the upcoming Volta Fair, Dzifa Bampoe who is Head of News at TV3 and Ivy Prosper, Media Professional and Social Media Manager for Ghana Tourism Authority’s Year of Return/Beyond the Return Campaigns, each delivered short messages to the community about their involvement in promoting tourism and investment to the Volta Region. Missing from the event were the other Volta Fair ambassadors, Kafui Day, Broadcast Journalist, Author and Co-Host on GTV Breakfast, Bernard Avle, Broadcast Journalist with Citi FM/CitiTV, and Emefa Apawu, Broadcast Journalist with Multimedia Group. Due to other commitments, they were unable to attend the event, but have participated in the other activities to promote the Volta Region.

The weather was perfect with the sunshine revealing the beauty of the lush green mountains that surrounded the grounds for the festivities. Members of the community came out in big numbers with culture on full display with music, dancing, drumming and the diversity of traditional leaders who have a keen interest in the development of their communities to uplift the region. Activities were almost faltered when thick clouds rolled through with rain that forced attendees to run for cover. It didn’t stop the event as the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey stood under an umbrella at the podium to deliver his keynote address. “Tourism for inclusive growth means creating descent employment through inclusive economic growth a skilled and vibrant workforce to support an inclusive growth path and statistics that acknowledge that behind every number there is a person,” He said. “It also means unlocking the potential of the tourism ecosystem the value chain and investment facilitation for more inclusive and sustainable growth in traditions and marginalized communities with huge tourism and other resources.” 

Deputy CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Ekow Sampson, spoke on behalf of CEO of GTA, Akwasi Agyeman, who could not be there for the festivities saying, “Domestic tourism presents an opportunity for us to sustain tourism growth.”  He explained that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, together with Ghana Tourism Authority and the private sector collaborated to initiate the domestic tourism campaign ‘Experience Ghana Share Ghana’ to encourage the local community to patronize travel within the country and region of West Africa. Overall, the day was a success, and the community was happy that international attention has come to uplift the place they call home with the hope it leads to economic growth and better opportunities.

By: Ivy Prosper

With tears in their eyes, Viola Fletcher, age 107 and Hughes Van Ellis, aka Uncle Redd, age 100, were finding it hard to say goodbye to Ghana.  After a week-long trip, they fell in love with the country’s hospitality, the people and the culture.  They completed a life mission to see the motherland Africa and didn’t want to go back.  

The siblings are survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre when a mob of racist white people completely decimated a thriving black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Fletcher said it was her lifelong dream to see Africa before seeing God. That dream has been realized beyond her wildest dreams. On their last evening in Accra, they were treated to a farewell dinner by the poolside at the residence of Ambassador Erieka Bennett.  Surrounded by their family and new friends, it was both a goodbye and a celebration of their life-changing experience. 

When Uncle Redd wanted to speak after dinner he was so emotional, he began to tear up, holding his hand in front of his eyes trying to hold back the tears. Taking his glasses off, he took tissue and wiped the tears. “I can’t think of the words but I’ve got one or two words…this is love, from the heart,” he said. “The love and respect, honour…that’s what it is. I want to thank each and every one of you….number one people, it’s been amazing….I thank you, I love you, I never will forget you…number one people in my heart, understand?” Thank you so much.”  

The Diaspora African Forum presented Mother Fletcher with a Living Legend Award to honour her contributions to the world.  She was grateful and shared her sentiments about the experience in Ghana. “Every one of you and all the effort you’ve shown, I feel comfortable and full. Thank you very much and I’m sure the whole family feels the same way. We all love you.”

Malee Craft is the eldest daughter of Uncle Redd and also took the opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude for their time in Ghana. “The respect that has been given to him has been phenomenal. We are really speechless as to all the things that we have done, seen, the people we have met, and it’s been a wonderful lifetime experience and I’d like to say thank you, thank you, thank you, for everything. For the love, the kindness that everyone has shown us here for our first time in Ghana.”.

Deputy Director of Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President, Dr. Nadia Musah joined the farewell dinner and expressed a heartfelt thank you from her office and the presidency for choosing Ghana as the place to visit in Africa. “I’m very happy we spent the last seven, eight days with you and looking at your strength…” she said. “You can’t hold anything back. You cannot. You shouldn’t let your age or anything limit what you can do.”

At the airport it was another emotional scene as Dr. Toni Luck and Ambassador Bennett, had tears and felt the love these two centenarians had brought to Ghana.  The trip not only changed the lives of Mother Fletcher and Uncle Redd, but it also made an impact on everyone who spent time around them over the past week.  Their journey has inspired others who were once hesitant about travelling to Africa.  If they can travel at age 107 and 100, then there’s nothing that should stop others from making the same journey.  

By Ivy Prosper

The Ghana Tourism Authority held its Stakeholders Consultative meeting April 13-14, 2021 with stakeholders in the tourism industry at the Hill View Hotel in Teiman-Abokobi. The goal of the meeting was to work towards developing strategies that would boost both domestic and sub-regional tourism to Ghana. A focus on increasing international tourism through the Beyond the Return campaign was also in the discussion.

The new Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, has set goals to increase tourism arrivals in Ghana for the remainder of 2021. His vision was the foundation of the tourism targets discussed in the meeting; Domestic Tourism Arrivals – 600, 000, Sub Regional Tourism Arrivals (ECOWAS) – 250, 000 and Beyond the Return Arrivals – 700, 000.

Everyone in attendance was tasked to find strategies to help boost numbers in all areas. After a successful year for tourism in 2019, Ghana, like the rest of the world, suffered big losses on the tourism front. Key people in attendance at the meeting were the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations, GTA, Ekow Sampson, President of the Ghana Hoteliers Association, Dr. Edward Ackah-Nyameke, President of Tour Operators Union of Ghana, (TUOGHA) Alisa Osei Asamoah, CEO of Apstar Tours and former TOUGHA President, Stella Apenteng, CEO of Exotic Adventures and Advisor to TORGAG, Kwaku Pasah, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) Emmanuel Frimpong, President of Car Rentals Association of Ghana, Seth Ocran and Manager of Beyond the Return Secretariat, Annabelle McKenzie. Other important stakeholders present were CEO of Dodi Travel and Tours, Ahmed Naaman, CEO of Sunseekers and Sun Lodge Hotel, Kwame Ansong, some Management Staff of Ghana Tourism Authority and other tourism professionals.

In his opening address to the group, Agyeman said the purpose of the meeting was, “To have a concerted effort to drive both domestic and regional tourism growth and build a collective sector strategy for growth and development.” He went on to speak briefly on how the pandemic affected the sector last year and that we’re working towards improvements for the remainder of 2021. One of the key concerns was how the government and private sectors could work together towards a common goal.

Breakout sessions at the meeting allowed everyone to brainstorm ideas and marketing strategies to help Ghana’s tourism industry recover from last year’s challenges. Agyeman said, “We need to find what factors attract people.” He highlighted the importance of all the stakeholders to create a seamless experience for all tourists in Ghana whether domestic or international. As the meeting wrapped up he noted that because many people around the world have delayed their international travel plans due to the pandemic, putting an emphasis on domestic tourism would be a positive way forward.