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.

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

Brenda Joyce, Founder of African Heritage Precious Metals, held a special presentation on the Sankofa Medallion, a gold coin designed to commemorate the ‘Year of Return, Ghana 2019’ campaign. “The world of gold medallions and coins has existed for many centuries, but only a fraction of that belongs to African history,” she said. “Gold treasures commemorate historical events or heroes of a time.” The coin is designed to create a sense of pride, promote legacy, an eternal reminder of the the ‘Year of Return’.

The medallion is available as part of a collection of jewellery created in different styles to suit each customer’s lifestyle needs. There is the signature medallion coin, pendant, dangle earrings, cufflinks, a ring, bracelet and pin. All the styles are made using pure 14k or 18k gold and available in different sizes. Each comes with a certificate of authenticity verifying it is pure gold.

The ‘Year of Return’ was one of the most successful campaigns in Ghana’s history that welcomed members of the diaspora community to Ghana. The year was filled with such a renewed energy about Africa and the continent overall. It was a time when everyone was looking for keepsakes to remind them of what a monumental year it was. This is exactly why African Heritage Metals Ltd., launched the Sankofa Medallion. To provide something that would be an eternal reminder of the significance and legacy of the ‘Year of Return’.

President Nana Akufo Addo, was presented with his very own Sankofa Medallion during a Breakfast event in December 2019 when he announced plans for ‘Beyond the Return’ to be the follow up to Ghana’s ‘Year of Return’ campaign. Brenda Joyce personally presented the medallion to the president at the Kempinski Hotel to signify the official launch of the gold medallion.

Brenda Joyce has over 25 years of experience in the precious minerals and jewelry industry. She’s passionate about celebrating African history, heritage, culture and celebrating the heroes of the past. Ghana is one of the two top producers of gold in Africa. Despite being one of Ghana’s biggest mineral exports, gold also accounts for huge losses for Ghana because it’s potential is not fully realized. Most gold is exported in its raw state and unrefined resulting in a lower value. Joyce recognized the power of the dollar in the diaspora community and feels it was best to encourage our communities to invest their money in items that have a significant value both economically and historically. The Sankofa Medallion does just that.

African Heritage Metals strongly believes that buying one of their mediallions is not only a keepsake and memory of the ‘Year of Return’, but it’s also an investment in something that adds value to their lives. It’s an opportunity to acquire something made of pure gold that has beauty, celebrates history and grows in value as the price of gold increases.

For more information on purchasing a Sankofa Medallion, visit the website at https://africanheritage-pm.com/ and email the team at support@africanheritage-pm.com.