The historic town of Elmina, in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem Municipality in the Central Region, clocked another milestone in its rich history last Thursday when SH Vega, a passenger vessel with a capacity of over 280 people, made a historic call at the Elmina Fishing Port.
This is the first time in its iconic history that the famed coastal town has welcomed a cruise ship, making it the latest cruise ship destination in West Africa.
This milestone event at the €84 million Elmina Fishing Harbour marked a significant boost to tourism for Ghana’s tourism industry and the local economy of Elmina.
The commissioning of the port in 2023 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has paved the way for Elmina to become a new destination for cruise passengers.
Traditionally, Tema and Takoradi have been Ghana’s favoured ports of call for cruise ships.
On board the SH Vega were 106 passengers and 9 crew members from various nationalities, including Australia, Austria, China, France, Germany, Greece, Russia, and Nigeria.
The visitors explored the UNESCO-accredited world heritage sites of the Elmina castle and township, the Cape Coast Castle, the Batik making Centre at Global Mamas in Elmina, and Kakum National Park.
Additionally, they enjoyed traditional drumming and dance lessons with impressive performances.
The SH Vega dropped its anchor in the Elmina waters, approximately 8.8 cables away from the main breakwater of the port.
The passengers and crew were then disembarked from the vessel into Zodiac boats, ensuring their safety throughout the process.
Peter Amoo-Bediako, the Director of the Port, expressed appreciation for the Ghanaian government’s vision in constructing the Elmina Fishing Harbour to support the local fishing community.
He emphasized that SH Vega’s visit presents endless opportunities for the port and the Elmina township as a whole.
The Director of Port, Takoradi, also highlighted the collaborative efforts of various regulatory institutions, including the Ghana Maritime Authority, GRA-Customs, National Intelligence Bureau, National Security, NACOB, Immigration, Port Health, Marine Police, and Ghana Police Service, in making this event possible.
Solomon Appiah, the Municipal Chief Executive for KEEA, expressed optimism about the positive impact of this historical achievement on the local economy of Elmina and its surroundings.
With this maiden call by SH Vega, however, the Elmina fishing Harbour which was primarily built by the government to assist fisher folks in their fishing activities, has now assumed a dual port role of being both a fishing port and a cruise destination.
With the support of the government, various regulatory institutions, and the community of Elmina, the world-famed township is now establishing itself as a promising destination for cruise passengers, further enhancing the country’s reputation as a favoured travel spot.