GTA,CeeJay multimedia appeals for public support as it unveils Akwaaba festival 2024

Ghanaians are called upon to support domestic tourism in a bid to make it lucrative to achieve the needed developmental drive.

The appeal was made at the blastoff of the third edition of the innovative "Akwaaba Festival"(Akwaaba Fest'24).

The unveiling ceremony came off last Friday, January 27, 2024, at the National Theatre amidst a celebration with calls to maximize the tourism potential in Ghana's art industry.

Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, the Deputy Director at Corporate Affairs, Ghana Tourism Authority, Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman admonished that only a united front and voice could assist in the promotion of Ghana's tourism, arts, and culture potentials both domestically and internationally.

This, he said can be made possible by the Akwaaba Festival.

Assuring the gathering of his outfit's unwavering commitment to upscale domestic tourism, he pledged continuous support in development leveraging on its plethora of networks, collaboration, and partnership of the Akwaaba Festival.

Reiterating his outfit's support, Mr. Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi assured the general public of a resolve to retain Ghana on the competitive international tourism map as the preferred tourism destination in West Africa.

"Let's all continue to support the worthy cause as the 3-day festival aims at showcasing Ghana's rich, diverse historical and traditional heritage",  he implored.

The 2024 edition is on the theme  History and Traditions of the Ghanaian Culture and Hospitality" and is scheduled for the 6th-8th of March 2024 at the National Theatre.

The youth being the channels of transient, Mr. Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi hoped that the festival would drive the necessary interest among the youth towards the attainment of developmental goals.

He however underscored the significance of the 3-day festival which will include an exhibition and sales of Ghanaian arts and crafts, traditional textiles and accessories, local beverages, a food bazaar, Akwaaba night, Akwaaba Awards, Miss Akwaaba, a Music concert with MUSIGA amongst others impact the promotion and marketing of the country treasures.

He said, "It is therefore imperative to drive the agenda of developing and promoting domestic tourism by way of forging the needed partnership through collaborative efforts with government agencies and other related organizations. This

is evident in the Domestic and Regional Tourism Authority through a unique model called, "Experience Ghana, Share Ghana". The Deputy Director further disclosed that a total of 937,087 was recorded for domestic tourism in 2022 while 2023 recorded a million.

With the "Beyond the Return" project intended to span from 2020 to 2030, it is expected to build on the gains made from the Year of Return project during which period seven pillars were unveiled to consolidate the gains of the year of return. T

pillars which included the Experience Ghana, Invest in Ghana, Celebrate Ghana, Brand Ghana, Give Back to Ghana as well as Promote Pan African Heritage and Innovation. 

Experience Ghana, Share Ghana, See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana, and Feel Ghana were initiatives tailored towards growing domestic tourism, he noted. He added that the festival will doubtless offer learning opportunities for the various individuals in terms of culture, history, and heritage across the 16 regions in Ghana while helping tourism.

A veteran actor, David Dontor called on Ghana Education Service to help preserve the country's culture by incorporating it into the curriculum.

This, he said will help bequeath the country's unique culture to future generations. Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi, President of Pan African-Ghana urged the media to assist in achieving the set goals of the initiative.

Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Padiki Art Gallery, Madam Sharon Dede Padi urged Ghanaians to take advantage of everything that makes them Ghanaian.

According to her, everything about the Ghanaian represents art and should be leveraged to promote tourism in and outside Ghana.