The government has announced plans to work closely with the private sector in improving key tourist sites and events as part of the Beyond the Year of Return initiative to reduce unemployment in Ghana.
The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta listed several tourist centres that will be revamped, including Aburi Botanical Gardens, Salaga and Pikworo Slavery Camps, and Yaa Asantewaa Mausoleum.
He made this known during his presentation of the mid-year budget review t to Parliament on Monday, July 31.
“Government will work closely with the private sector to improve key tourist sites and events as part of the Beyond the Year of Return initiative. We have made considerable progress towards achieving 1.2 million visitors for 2023 with 150,000 jobs along the value chain, and 2 million foreign visitors and 1.5 million in domestic tourism by 2025″, the Finance Minister noted.
“Our goal is to complement this campaign, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, which was redeveloped and modernized with support from the World Bank and other development partners, was commissioned by President Akufo-Addo on July 4, 2023”.
“The redeveloped park will boost domestic and heritage tourism and is expected to attract over 1 million tourists annually”.
Furthermore, the minister said the government, in partnership with the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), will continue to renovate selected forts, castles, and museums across the country.
“Government will continue with the redevelopment of Aburi Botanical Gardens, Salaga and Pikworo Slavery Camps, and Yaa Asantewaa Mausoleum to boost domestic tourism. Furthermore, he added that in partnership with the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), efforts will continue to renovate selected forts, castles and museums across the country,” he added.