THE Minister for Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, has stated that despite the fact that Ghana abounds in a lot of tourist attractions, the nation is yet to position itself well on the world tourism map.
She said even though Ghana was a founder member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), it was not as well known internationally as countries such as South Africa, Kenya, The Gambia, Senegal, Mali and others.
Mrs Azumah-Mensah said this when the UNWTO Secretary-General, Francesco Frangialli, called on her at her office to discuss this year's World Tourism Day celebration, which is expected to be hosted by Ghana on September 27 on the theme, "Tourism Celebrates Diversity”.
“I think we are not doing something right. And I would like the UNWTO to assist me to unravel this puzzle because Ghana has all it takes to attract millions of tourists. Ghana was the first African country south of the Sahara to gain independence and currently it is one of the most, if not the most, peaceful countries in West Africa; a bastion of true democracy and yet we do not attract visitors,” the minister lamented.
“Our people are the most hospitable. We are rich in diverse culture and history which should attract visitors. Even though we cannot compare our wildlife to that of East African countries such as Kenya, Ghana also has some wildlife and beautiful natural scenery worth seeing,” she added.
Mrs Azumah-Mensah applauded the UNWTO for choosing Ghana as one of the countries to benefit from the Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) programme, which is presently being put into operation in the Western and Northern regions.
The ST-EP programme, which was introduced by the UNWTO, seeks to use education and tourism to eliminate poverty and it has so far established eight libraries in eight communities to encourage education and also create awareness of tourism.
Mr Frangialli noted that the UNWTO was working through the Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourist Board with the view to ensuring that operators in the industry maximised the positive economic, social and cultural effects of tourism and fully reaped its benefits, while minimising its negative social and environmental impacts.
He said the UNWTO, which is a fully-fledged organisation is committed to using tourism as a tool to eliminate poverty, saying that his outfit paid more attention to poor and developing countries and was prepared to work with Ghana to make it a preferred tourism destination.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Kaneshie market to be expanded
THE management of the Kaneshie market complex has decided to open the market at 6:30 am and close it at 7:30 pm in a bid to improve upon security at the complex.
It is also to curb the incidence of thefts that occur mostly after some of the traders have left for their homes.
The Managing Director (MD) of the Accra Markets Limited, managers of the facility, Mr Edmund Kofi Dufour Addae announced this during an interaction with the Daily Graphic in Accra.
He said selling on the pavements had led to an increase in thefts at the market and that had become a security threat to the traders.
He added that there had been several instances where traders who left the market late had their cars broken into and their personal items stolen.
He also announced plans to expand the market to accommodate the increasing numbers of traders as part of efforts to decongest the market. Mr Addae explained that the expansion programme would comprise the construction of additional stores and a private car park of three floors at a cost of $25 million .
The first floor would be for buses, the second for taxis and the third for private cars. There will also be offices, shops and recreational centres to keep the market alive.
According to the MD, the private car park would not be for only the traders at the market, but also for traders at the Abbosey Okai Market and the First Light Bus Stop.
Mr Addae told the Daily Graphic that the old building would be renovated to serve other useful purposes.
He stated that management was still mobilising resources for the construction of the new facility, which was expected to be completed within three years.
Mr Addae said another major problem the market faced was the selling of items and foodstuffs on pavements, adding that the market had 150 vacant stores at the ground floor, but the traders who sold on the pavements showed no interest in them.
He, therefore, appealed to the government and the general public to help mobilise resources for the construction of the new market.
It is also to curb the incidence of thefts that occur mostly after some of the traders have left for their homes.
The Managing Director (MD) of the Accra Markets Limited, managers of the facility, Mr Edmund Kofi Dufour Addae announced this during an interaction with the Daily Graphic in Accra.
He said selling on the pavements had led to an increase in thefts at the market and that had become a security threat to the traders.
He added that there had been several instances where traders who left the market late had their cars broken into and their personal items stolen.
He also announced plans to expand the market to accommodate the increasing numbers of traders as part of efforts to decongest the market. Mr Addae explained that the expansion programme would comprise the construction of additional stores and a private car park of three floors at a cost of $25 million .
The first floor would be for buses, the second for taxis and the third for private cars. There will also be offices, shops and recreational centres to keep the market alive.
According to the MD, the private car park would not be for only the traders at the market, but also for traders at the Abbosey Okai Market and the First Light Bus Stop.
Mr Addae told the Daily Graphic that the old building would be renovated to serve other useful purposes.
He stated that management was still mobilising resources for the construction of the new facility, which was expected to be completed within three years.
Mr Addae said another major problem the market faced was the selling of items and foodstuffs on pavements, adding that the market had 150 vacant stores at the ground floor, but the traders who sold on the pavements showed no interest in them.
He, therefore, appealed to the government and the general public to help mobilise resources for the construction of the new market.
ECOWAS experts discuss continental shelf
Story: Precious Koranteng Agyei & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
The Ghana National Continental Shelf Delineation Project (GNCSDP) has organised an experts workshop of ECOWAS member states on the outer limit of the continental shelf in Accra.
The two-day workshop was a follow-up to the experts meeting of coastal state members of the ECOWAS on outer limits of the continental shelf held in Abuja, Nigeria, last month.
The main objective of the workshop was to consider technical issues regarding the submission of preliminary information, as well as map out strategies for an effective collaboration among neighbouring ECOWAS coastal states.
This will enable them to meet the deadline for the presentation of submissions for the continental shelf.
A continental shelf is a geographical feature that shows the natural prolongation of the earth into the sea.
The workshop, sponsored by the Kingdom of Norway, brought together about 50 participants from neighbouring countries such as Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.
According to the Co-ordinator of the GNCSDP, Mr Lawrence Apaalse, Ghana had satisfied the conditions for the extension of its continental shelf, stating that "on the part of Ghana, the test of appurtenance to extend the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles is satisfied".
He explained that the submission was being processed to be sent to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in April this year.
Mr Apaalse said considering the approaching deadline for submissions, Ghana was of the opinion that each of the respective states should benefit from the consideration by the CLCS.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, urged the participants to endeavour to reach agreement during the workshop, even if it was provisional, to enable them to make their respective submissions to the CLCS.
The minister, who is also the chairman of the GNCSDP, expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Norway for sponsoring the workshop, adding, "The Government of Ghana will do all it takes to support Norway in its quest to assist the sub-region."
The Ambassador of the Foreign Ministry of Norway, Mr Hans Wilhelm Longva, advised participants to remain level headed and communicate effectively to address issues bordering on the continental shelf and maritime boundaries.
"Issues involving the continental shelf maritime boundary are very complex and must be handled in the spirit of co-operation," he said.
The Ghana National Continental Shelf Delineation Project (GNCSDP) has organised an experts workshop of ECOWAS member states on the outer limit of the continental shelf in Accra.
The two-day workshop was a follow-up to the experts meeting of coastal state members of the ECOWAS on outer limits of the continental shelf held in Abuja, Nigeria, last month.
The main objective of the workshop was to consider technical issues regarding the submission of preliminary information, as well as map out strategies for an effective collaboration among neighbouring ECOWAS coastal states.
This will enable them to meet the deadline for the presentation of submissions for the continental shelf.
A continental shelf is a geographical feature that shows the natural prolongation of the earth into the sea.
The workshop, sponsored by the Kingdom of Norway, brought together about 50 participants from neighbouring countries such as Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.
According to the Co-ordinator of the GNCSDP, Mr Lawrence Apaalse, Ghana had satisfied the conditions for the extension of its continental shelf, stating that "on the part of Ghana, the test of appurtenance to extend the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles is satisfied".
He explained that the submission was being processed to be sent to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in April this year.
Mr Apaalse said considering the approaching deadline for submissions, Ghana was of the opinion that each of the respective states should benefit from the consideration by the CLCS.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, urged the participants to endeavour to reach agreement during the workshop, even if it was provisional, to enable them to make their respective submissions to the CLCS.
The minister, who is also the chairman of the GNCSDP, expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Norway for sponsoring the workshop, adding, "The Government of Ghana will do all it takes to support Norway in its quest to assist the sub-region."
The Ambassador of the Foreign Ministry of Norway, Mr Hans Wilhelm Longva, advised participants to remain level headed and communicate effectively to address issues bordering on the continental shelf and maritime boundaries.
"Issues involving the continental shelf maritime boundary are very complex and must be handled in the spirit of co-operation," he said.
Rastafarians want more recognition
Rastafarians in the country have called on the government to include them and their ideas in the current democratic governance of the country.
That, they said, would enable them to contribute effectively to the development of the country.
Speaking at the launch of the Rastafari Council, which has been constituted to seek the welfare all Rastafarians in the country, the President of the council, Ras Ahuma Bosco Ocansey, said the council was made up of representatives from various Rastafari organisations in the country and individuals who were not affiliated to any organisation but had established a track record of contributing meaningfully to society.
He said the objectives of the council were to promote unity among the various Rastafari organisations in the country, establish youth development and educational programmes, as well as seek the mutual interest of all Rastafarians.
Ras Ocansey said the council would also set up a credit union for its members to support those who faced financial difficulties, adding that the credit union would form the basis of an economic regeneration of Rastafari in Ghana.
He expressed his displeasure at the negative perception people had of Rastafarians, adding that despite the level of education of many Ghanaians, there were still some amount of stigmatisation associated with Rastafari and the council was prepared to change that.
He commended the media and the general public for not sticking to the perception about Rastafarians by attending the launch.
The Chairman for the occasion, Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, charged the council to strive for higher positions and ignore the perception people had of them.
He said Rastafarians were true Africans who helped in fighting for the rights of black people and they needed to be accepted and appreciated by the society.
Mr Pratt debunked the notion that Rastafarians were a bunch of criminals who were a threat to society and stated that due to that perception, children who were Rastafarians were always dismissed from school or not accepted by school authorities.
As part of the event, a minute’s silence was observed for some renowned Rastafarians who had passed away, such as Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, the legendary Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Joseph Hill of Culture and Lucky Dube.
Picture: Some members of the Rastafari Council in a group picture after the inauguration.
That, they said, would enable them to contribute effectively to the development of the country.
Speaking at the launch of the Rastafari Council, which has been constituted to seek the welfare all Rastafarians in the country, the President of the council, Ras Ahuma Bosco Ocansey, said the council was made up of representatives from various Rastafari organisations in the country and individuals who were not affiliated to any organisation but had established a track record of contributing meaningfully to society.
He said the objectives of the council were to promote unity among the various Rastafari organisations in the country, establish youth development and educational programmes, as well as seek the mutual interest of all Rastafarians.
Ras Ocansey said the council would also set up a credit union for its members to support those who faced financial difficulties, adding that the credit union would form the basis of an economic regeneration of Rastafari in Ghana.
He expressed his displeasure at the negative perception people had of Rastafarians, adding that despite the level of education of many Ghanaians, there were still some amount of stigmatisation associated with Rastafari and the council was prepared to change that.
He commended the media and the general public for not sticking to the perception about Rastafarians by attending the launch.
The Chairman for the occasion, Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, charged the council to strive for higher positions and ignore the perception people had of them.
He said Rastafarians were true Africans who helped in fighting for the rights of black people and they needed to be accepted and appreciated by the society.
Mr Pratt debunked the notion that Rastafarians were a bunch of criminals who were a threat to society and stated that due to that perception, children who were Rastafarians were always dismissed from school or not accepted by school authorities.
As part of the event, a minute’s silence was observed for some renowned Rastafarians who had passed away, such as Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, the legendary Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Joseph Hill of Culture and Lucky Dube.
Picture: Some members of the Rastafari Council in a group picture after the inauguration.
Courtesy Call
The Senegalese Ambassador to Ghana, Balla Mandaw Dia, yesterday paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Information, Mrs Zita Okai Kwei, and reiterated the commitment of his government to deepen bilateral ties with Ghana.
Mr Mandaw Dia congratulated the Minister on her appointment and charged her to work hard and collaborate effectively with the government.
He commended President John Atta Mills for including women in the governance of the country and took the opportunity to invite the minister to the African Culture Festival in Senegal this year.
He praised Ghanaians for holding a successful elections which saw one political party handing over power to another political party peacefully to govern the country.
The ambassador expressed the hope that Senegal and Ghana would continue to enjoy a close friendship based on the shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
Mr Mandaw Dia pledged his country’s support to help promote the information sector in the country.
The minister expressed her profound gratitude to the ambassador for the visit and assured him that the ministry would continue to support and collaborate with Senegal.
Mr Mandaw Dia congratulated the Minister on her appointment and charged her to work hard and collaborate effectively with the government.
He commended President John Atta Mills for including women in the governance of the country and took the opportunity to invite the minister to the African Culture Festival in Senegal this year.
He praised Ghanaians for holding a successful elections which saw one political party handing over power to another political party peacefully to govern the country.
The ambassador expressed the hope that Senegal and Ghana would continue to enjoy a close friendship based on the shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
Mr Mandaw Dia pledged his country’s support to help promote the information sector in the country.
The minister expressed her profound gratitude to the ambassador for the visit and assured him that the ministry would continue to support and collaborate with Senegal.
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