The governing board of the Ghana Tourism Authority has met with stakeholders in the arts and entertainment industry in Ghana, to deliberate on ways to improve the quality of upcoming events later in the year, dubbed December in Gh.
The engagement was to also explore ways for event organizers to be more friendly, and to attract and retain more tourists and investors in the country. The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Tourism Authority Mr Akwasi Agyeman also revealed that a total of 50 events have so far been endorsed for the upcoming “December in GH” Events. He said out of 83 event proposals received by the “Beyond the Return” Secretariat, 50 have been endorsed.
Mr Agyeman appealed to event organizers to provide the prices of their events as well as all protocols involved to the Secretariat and ensure to maintain standards in their operations during the events, to attract more tourists to boost the country’s tourist receipts.
Mr Nadel Majdoub, Head of the Protection Department, National Security, said security before, during and after was key to the successful organization of the Events, especially with issues of terrorism almost at our doorstep.
He said the security agencies needed to be informed about all arrival schedules, hotels for guests, event venues and times and departure schedules, among others. Mr Majdoub said there was also the need to be informed about guests who need close protection, to assign personnel to guard them as well as those who require an escort to travel across the county
Mr Ben Anane Nsiah, Deputy Chief Executive, General Services, GTA, said the meeting was a destination-wide engagement to make Ghana the destination come to in December, and it was important for stakeholders to ensure to give people the required experience.
He said the Authority was still reaching out to the hospitality establishments to engage and train them to be more professional during the period as well as a consistent effort to upgrade tourist sites to engage the interest of visitors.
Ms Anabel Makenzy urged event organizers to ensure their tickets were available to be purchased online, as the main target was to attract global Ghanaians in the diaspora.
She encouraged organizers to pay their vendors at the end of the event and ensure that all contracts with other stakeholders were officially signed.
By:Isaac Clottey
