The Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture yesterday signed a US$50 million agreement with GUMA Group, an integrated tourism group that brings inbound tourists from all over the world to develop specific tourism projects in the country.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) which was signed by the sector minister, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal and Mr Robert Gumede, the Executive Chairman for the GUMA Group, was witnessed by Mr Kwadwo Antwi, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) and Mr Luvhengo Neswiswi, Group Chief Financial Officer of Tourvest.
At a signing ceremony in Accra, the minister said the agreement was to embark on various projects to ensure the effective and efficient development of the tourism sector in Ghana by designing, building, and rehabilitating places of interest.
These places he said included cultural and historical places of interest, wildlife conservation and establishment of commercial wildlife parks, heavy capital tourism iconic projects and other associated infrastructure, as set out in its Tourism Development Plans.
He said the parties desired to cooperate with each other in respect of the development of strategic tourism infrastructure in Ghana within 24 to 60 months, including: the upgrade of the Shai Hills Resource Reserve, develop the Kakum National Park, upgrade the Mole National Park.
Dr Awal indicated that, the sector seeks among other things to drive and grow private sector investments into the tourism, arts and hospitality industry with the aim of improving the performance of tourism in targeted destinations in Ghana, with the objective of creating jobs along the tourism value chain, generate income for the players, reduce poverty and generally make the country an attractive tourism destination.
He said the ministry aimed to create 150,000 direct jobs every year in the tourism space and to achieve the target, it had set 2m international tourist arrivals by 2026 which would accrue about US$6bn tourist receipts making tourism the number one contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
“When tourists come, they come back again with family and friends and they stay longer. That’s what our partnership with GUMA is all about. it is to add value and shine on the attractions to promote domestic tourism,” he added.
The minister thanked GUMA Group for trusting in Ghana to invest in the tourism sector and urged the media to put tourism at the front burner for sustainable development.
The Executive Chairman, GUMA Group, Mr Robert Gumede, said as part of the agreement, the group would also establish an operating lounge at the airport and duty-free outlets within the city to run diplomatic duty-free stores.
That, he said would be undertaken, together with other concessionaires and the Department of Forestry, to rehabilitate and operate the landing airfields for light aircraft adjacent to the National Parks/Reserves and the improvement of artery roads connecting these tourism products and nodes.
“We want to hold hands with you, work with you and develop this market. We believe investing in some of your facilities will drive tourists and increase your tourism receipts,” he added.
BY VIVIAN ARTHUR
