Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has commended the World Bank for its continued support to Ghana’s tourism, culture and creative arts sector.
She said the longstanding partnership between the Ministry and the World Bank had contributed significantly to the sector’s development over the years.
Madam Gomashie made the remarks when a World Bank delegation paid a courtesy call on the Ministry in Accra to discuss opportunities for deepening collaboration.
She acknowledged the Bank’s contribution to national development and called for closer cooperation to address structural and infrastructural challenges facing the tourism sector.
The Minister expressed concern about the deteriorating state of some national tourism assets, particularly parts of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
“The physical environment of our flagship tourism sites must reflect our commitment to tourism. Tourism is the heartbeat of our image as a country,” she said.
She said improving infrastructure at key heritage sites was essential to enhancing visitor experience and strengthening sector competitiveness.
Mr Leonardo Iacovone, an Economist with the World Bank, expressed interest in strengthening collaboration with the Ministry.
He noted the growing global importance of tourism, particularly for Africa, which he said had a rapidly expanding youth population with skills and entrepreneurial potential.
Mr Iacovone said that tourism created substantial direct and indirect employment.
It could play a transformative role in Ghana’s economic development if supported with appropriate policies, infrastructure and investment, he said.
Mr Andres F. Garcia, a World Bank representative, said the Bank was conducting a comprehensive global tourism study, the first to integrate multiple tourism value?chain tools into a single analytical framework.
“Although the study had experienced some delays, it would provide strategic insights to support countries such as Ghana in improving sector competitiveness, resilience and long?term planning,” he said.
He reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to strengthening tourism infrastructure, enhancing resilience and unlocking the full economic potential of Ghana’s tourism sector.
The World Bank delegation included Mr Abu Ahmed, Mr Emmanuel Awuni, Mr Andres Garcia and Mr Leonardo Iacovone.
Ghana’s delegation comprised Prof. Kobby Mensah, Executive Director of the Ghana Tourism Development Company; Mrs Kafui Danku Pitcher, Executive Director of the National Film Authority; Mr Devine Owusu Ansah, Director of Culture and Creative Arts; and Dr Geoffrey, Director of Tourism at the Ministry.
Source: GNA
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