Prez. Akufo-Addo promises investment into tourism development

• Posted on March 7, 2017
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

THE President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,  has reiterated his government’s commitment to make the necessary investment into tourism development of the country to help unearth the potential therein for  accelerated national  development.

The President made this commitment when he commissioned the Presidential Museum of Ghana, a legacy project to commemorate Ghana’s 60th Anniversary at the Christiansburg Castle, Osu.

The museum is expected would celebrate the achievement and the lives of the presidents of Ghana, past and present, who spent their time working in the colonial edifice.

The vision of the Museum, according to the President, is to have a state of the art museum, which would house presidential artefacts and papers, past works of presidents and also have on display, personal possessions like books, artworks and items of clothing “to allow us honour  appropriately their memories”.

Another interesting exhibition at the museum will be room the British Queen, Elizabeth II, slept in during her state visit to Ghana in 1960 and also put a spotlight on statesmen like playwright and lawyer Kobina Sekyi, Joseph Ephraim Casely-Hayford, Paa Grant and the Big Six -Obetsebi Lamptey, Kwame Nkrumah, Ako Adjei, Dr J.B. Danquah, William Ofori-Atta, Paa Willie and Edward Akufo-Addo.

The museum will also have bookshops, research rooms, well manicured gardens, sculptures and artworks to be rendered by Ghana’s finest craftsmen and artists for researchers.

He emphasised that the opening of the museum was an indication of his government’s commitment towards the development and promotion of tourism.

“Investment, innovation the pursuit of service excellence and meaningful partnerships will be the means to all the realisation of this vision.”

Furthermore, the president said he has instructed the Minister of Tourism to convene rapidly an investment and culture forum, which should, among others, focus on drawing the necessary investments towards the restoration of the country’s forts and castles and to provide access to the creative community to investment and ensuring a vibrant cultural content for both domestic and international tourism.

“The forum should also propose ways by which we can appropriately honour, memories of the African Diaspora,” he said.

The president was optimistic that the project would go a long way to improve the economic fortunes of Osu and also create the needed employment opportunities for the youth.

“I am excited about this project; I am excited about the opportunity it provides to the people of Osu and its environs in terms of jobs and entrepreneurship. I am hopeful that the young people from Osu will find jobs here“.

The President entreated the public to put the facility to good use to the realisation of the vision for the project.

 “I pray this exhibition inspires Ghanaians to use their talents and energies to do something in their own small way to boost Ghana’s development in line with the theme of the 60th anniversary – Mobilising for the Future”.

The exhibition, which pays homage to the country’s forebears whose toil led to the independence from colonialists, showcases everyday people including market women and farmers.