Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, popularly known as Abeiku Santana, has reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to developing Ghana’s tourism industry, positioning the country as the premier tourism hub in West Africa.
Speaking during a courtesy call on the Gulkpe Naa’s Palace in Tamale as part of a five-day official tour of the northern sector, Mr. Aggrey said the government, in partnership with the private sector, is investing heavily in infrastructure, technology, and marketing to drive growth in the tourism space.
“Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in and developing the country’s tourism potential to position Ghana as a leading tourism hub in West Africa,” he said.
He noted that these efforts are aimed at making tourism a key pillar for economic transformation, employment, and revenue generation.
The delegation, which included Deputy Director of Operations Ekow Sampson, Pan African Festival (PANAFEST) representative Taqiyya Salem, and Northern Regional Director of GTA, Lawyer Angelou Yossi Dogbe, later visited the Red Clay Studio—a contemporary art space founded by renowned artist Ibrahim Mahama.
Mr. Aggrey praised the site as a shining example of how sustainable tourism can thrive through innovation and the repurposing of abandoned materials. “We have discovered the Ibrahim Mahama Red Clay Studio, a studio that this young man has recycled and put together some old aircraft, trains, pans and so on,” he noted. “The studies educate the public on how sustainable tourism can be done with things and materials that have been abandoned.”
Touching on this year’s PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebration, he highlighted that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and its implementing agency, GTA, have embarked on a working visit spanning the Savannah, Northern, and Upper East Regions as part of the lead-up to the event. The team will continue the tour in the Bono, Ashanti, and Central regions, with the climax of celebrations scheduled in Cape Coast.
The 2025 edition of PANAFEST and Emancipation Day will be celebrated under the theme: “Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan-African Artistic Activism,” from July 17 to August 2.
“The vision of government deepening Ghana’s position as the number one tourism destination in West Africa led to the launch of the Black Star Experience, a flagship tourism programme that ensures the seven pillars of our tourism, arts, and culture are strong,” he said.
Mr. Aggrey further underscored the unique potential of every community to contribute to Ghana’s tourism profile, singling out Tamale’s leather industry as a major economic and cultural attraction.
PANAFEST representative Taqiyya Salem echoed the importance of the north in Ghana’s tourism and emancipation narrative. “PANAFEST is a very historic movement that signifies the relationship between the African diaspora and specifically Ghana,” she said. “We are here to enhance the bonds, analyze the opportunities, and enhance the tourism sector for economic growth.”
Lawyer Angelou Dogbe also emphasized that although the main celebrations are held in the south, the roots of emancipation are deeply embedded in the north. “The south is just an exit point. It’s only fitting that the journey begins in the north,” he said.
The Secretary to the Gulkpe Naa, Mohammed Rashad, expressed appreciation for the visit and called for deeper collaboration to harness the region’s tourism potential for economic development and job creation.
