<![CDATA[GHANANET.CO.UK - Tourism News]]>Thu, 21 Jan 2021 06:25:51 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Snakebites in Ashanti Region highest in 2019]]>Sat, 01 Feb 2020 23:04:18 GMThttps://www.ghananet.co.uk/tourism-news/snakebites-in-ashanti-region-highest-in-2019Visitors to Ghana don`t need to be afraid. Most cases are farmers and people, working in forest areas.
Executive Director of the African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Dr John Amuasi says Ghana records an average of 9,600 snakebites every year.

There is the need for concerted effort by stakeholders to eliminate the number bites and of death caused by snakes every year, Dr Amuasi recommends.
Green Mamba, Snakes, Snakes in Ghana, Snakes in Africa,Green Mamba - Out-smarted in Aburi, Eastern region of Ghana
​Although it is not known how many of these bites resulted in deaths, persons between the ages 20 and 34 years suffer the most bites.

The average number of bites per year show that the Upper West Region had the highest of 1,425 bites followed by Ashanti Region with 1,161 bites. Eastern Region records 987 bites, Central Region with 897 bites and Northern Region recording 799 bites.

Dr Amuasi made this known at a media briefing as the world celebrated World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day on Friday.

He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had included snakebite envenoming in the NTDs as it results in enormous suffering, disability and premature death on every continent.

According to him, in 2019, for the first time in five years, the Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of 1,535 bites.

Government Adviser on Health Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare indicated that currently anti-snake venom was free and the country was exploring how to effectively distribute the venom to where they are most needed, using the medical drones.

He stated that Ghana was considering, as a long term measure, the production of its own anti-snake venom to ensure that the right type is always available for the use of patients.
Source: 3news. com
]]><![CDATA[‘Year of Return’ draws thousands to Ghana’s stand at Vakantiebeurs]]>Sat, 01 Feb 2020 21:42:04 GMThttps://www.ghananet.co.uk/tourism-news/year-of-return-draws-thousands-to-ghanas-stand-at-vakantiebeursGhana’s biggest branding campaign “Year of Return” ended last year with heritage tourism being the core pull factor for the African American population. It will go down as one of the country’s biggest branding and tourism campaign and its effect was felt around the globe.
Ghana, Slave Trade, America, Tourism, Slave Castles,Year of Return
​The country’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who launched the project in America in 2018 has opened the new chapter which seek to build on the goodwill the country has enjoyed to drive Diaspora investment into the West African country.

He launched the “Beyond the Return “initiative and the Ghana Tourism Authority is expected to play key role in the execution of this initiative.

Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) annually embarks on several marketing campaigns in its source markets. While there are new areas they seek to explore, GTA is equally keen to consolidate markets that have naturally been considered key to its marketing strategies.

Netherlands is one of the countries they often showcase the country’s tourism assets. It’s capital, Amsterdam is connected to Accra daily by KLM and adds up to the factors which influence their choices. Vakantiebeurs Consumer Holiday Fair was the first stop for the Authority.

Year of Return might have ended but the collateral success is still attracting people to Ghana. During the show, Millennials’ who visited Ghana’s stand were looking to visit Ghana at some point during the summer holidays. They made mention of programs such as Afrochella and Afro Nation as some of the events they want to participate in.

The CEO of the GTA Akwasi Agyeman and his team held several meetings with hospitality and tourism institutions to explore partnership to the benefit of Ghana’s burgeoning tourism sector.

The Ghana Day celebration has become one of the social events GTA holds to showcase the gastronomy of the country as well as the display of rich Ghanaian music and dance.

The GTA CEO in his remark to the press at the just ended exhibition said, they would like to continue the marketing efforts in the Netherlands and also encourage diasporans and Ghanaians living in the Netherlands to come home and invest in the country’s economy since it offers a better return on investment.
Source: goldstreetbusiness. com
]]><![CDATA[How 'Year of Return' has marketed Ghana to African Americans - Rashad McCrorey gives details]]>Sat, 01 Feb 2020 21:03:14 GMThttps://www.ghananet.co.uk/tourism-news/how-year-of-return-has-marketed-ghana-to-african-americans-rashad-mccrorey-gives-detailsPictureHow 'Year of Return' has marketed Ghana to African Americans - Rashad McCrorey at Elmina Castle
The “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” was both a spiritual and birth-right journey embracing the lost members of the Global African family the “Black American”.

August 2019 marked the 400 year anniversary of the first Africans were removed from the continent who were enslaved in the Americas first arriving in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619.
Slave Trade, Elmina castle, West Africa, Ghana,Elmina Castle, Ghana
​These Africans were enslaved for the next 246 years, only ending after the American civil war in 1863 and the finals slaves being freed June 19th, 1865 which is celebrated by many Black Americans as “Juneteenth”.

In short “The Year of Return” is a landmark event that marked 400 years since enslaved Africans arrived in the United States, but more importantly celebrating the cumulative resilience of all the victims of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade who were scattered and displaced through the world in North America, South America, the Caribbean’s, Europe and Asia.

One of the main goals of the Year of Return campaign was to position Ghana as a key travel destination for Black Americans and the African Diaspora. Before this, Rashad McCorey had already begun with his Africa Cross Culture trips bringing Black Americans and the African Diaspora to visit the continent.

“My first trip to Ghana was in 2015 about 5 years ago and I have been doing tours to Ghana for over 3 years now. I don’t consider myself as a tourism operator, I consider myself as an Influencer. Legally, I’m registered as an entertainment company and Influencer. The company is Africa Cross Culture and the parent company is Rashad McCrorey LLC.”

His first trip to Ghana was between January 5 to January 22, 2015, and the Year of Return marked personally his 5th anniversary visiting Ghana.

“I came with a school because I was working on a degree in Theology. The plan was to go to Cameroon and then the Ebola outbreak happened in Cameroon, so the school canceled that trip and gave us an option of going to El Salvador or South Korea. I said no to those other non-African countries because I wanted to visit Africa. I couldn’t let stereotypes about an entire continent who people still treat like one single country ruin my first chance to come home. I wanted to go to the continent my ancestors came from.
Trans Atlantic Slave Trae, Slaves, Americas, Africa, Ghana, west AfricaBRITISH SAILOR REMOVING THE LEG IRONS FROM A SLAVE
I then with the help of two professors at my school spear headed a movement within the school to not cancel the trip to Africa. Citing that Africa is an entire continent with 54 countries with different cultures, traditions, languages, ecological environments, and more. This enlightenment eventually led to an agreement to allow us to visit Ghana because in America, and around the world Ghana is quietly known as the ‘Africa for beginners’ because of the welcoming nature of Ghanaians to people from around the world”.

“Before the trip happened, I took a course called the Cross-Culture course and that’s where I got the name for my brand and trips. Our trips are named Ghana Cross Culture, Egypt Cross Culture, Kenya Cross Culture, Rwanda Cross Culture and so on, all that are branching under Africa Cross Culture. Each event is a cultural experience embracing culture, knowledge, history, nightlife, and encouraging communication between all who travel. It’s a mixture of everything from nightlife to learning history and culture with deep intimate discussions on how to make the world a better place through sharing values, and beliefs, without one group being taken advantage of. It’s truly a cross cultural event we put together in each country.

Detailing how he was able to raise money to set up his tourism company, Rashad disclosed how he withdrew from his courses from the University.

“In America, we have a refund cheque (check), when you take out student loans they pay for your school enrollment and then when they know you have enrolled for the courses and began classes, they give you the remaining balance and you are supposed to use it to pay for any items needed to assist in your learning. Examples could consist of books, a laptop, pens, housing on campus and a number miscellaneous items. However, people use the money for whatever they choose, some party it away, buy clothes for fashion, cars, etc.

I even brought season tickets to my favorite sports team one year. But this time I took my refund cheque, redrew from all my classes and bought a plane ticket to Ghana and invested the rest it into what eventually became Africa Cross Culture. For the first time I took the extra money and invested it in my personal development and it saved my life. Ghana saved my life. I stayed in Ghana for 6 weeks. My original home in Ghana is in the Akuapem mountains specifically Akropong. That’s where it all started.

That’s where my ideas began and I started envisioning a dream that was amazing and to some unbelievable but truly attainable in my eyes. It was the end of 2016 that I decided to really start Africa Cross Culture, got my first client and led my first trip in February, 2017. I still can’t believe we took our first two guest around in taxis and trotro’s everywhere. I wouldn’t dare do that now I’m so ashamed (blushing in laughter and embarrassment).

Rashad’s expectations were met when he finally touched down at Kotoka International Airport because his father of blessed memory prepared him mentally for the trip.

“My expectations were met when I visited because my father who passed in August 2019 always prepared me for the trip because he told me Africa was a wonderful place, and when I finally visited Ghana I wasn’t scared and I didn’t get the culture shock like the rest of my group did. I was the person who hit the ground running. Building relationships and bonding with the people and culture”.

As the Year of Return focused on ensuring that Black Americans and the African Diaspora have a safe, pleasant and wonderful journey home so they will want to come back; Rashad revealed he was filled with joy as he walked through the crowd and realized his mission to connect African Diaspora to the continent finally materialized outside of just him alone.

“We had the ‘Year of Return’ and hundreds of people contacted me saying “You’ve been doing this for some time and now everyone is finally catching on” and to me, those statements are a blessing because I’m being viewed as a pioneer for trips of this nature. Walking through AfroChella, Accra Mall, Labadi beach and attending various parties. Other Americans stop me saying they know me from social media saying how the visuals and commentary from my page and journeys gave them a clearer view of what to expect and the courage to make this trip come true.

My first thoughts were, I wish they came through my company, but I quickly realized it’s not about me, it’s never been about me. God, Jah, The Universe, whatever your beliefs are used me to usher in a cultural change, the return home. I’ve already accomplished enough in one lifetime yet, I still have more visions some already coming to fruition. I am Rashad McCrorey, and I am a leader, influencer and care take of my people”

Follow Rashad McCrorey on Instagram @Rashad_McCrore
​Source: yfmghana. com
]]><![CDATA[Wesley Snipes to visit Ghana ‘Beyond The Return’ 2020]]>Mon, 20 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.ghananet.co.uk/tourism-news/wesley-snipes-to-visit-ghana-beyond-the-return-2020Picture of Wesley Snipes, visiting Ghana, Ghana, Year of Return,Wesley Snipes (2014)
American superstar Wesley Snipes says he will be visiting Ghana very soon.

The visit will be part of government’s 2020 ‘Beyond The Return’ initiative to further attract Diasporans not to only visit but also invest in the country.

In a short video available to NEWS-ONE on Thursday, the actor who is otherwise known as Daywalker for his role in the award-winning film ‘Blade’, announced his visit saying, “I am on my way to Accra.”
“You know that my teacher Dr. John Hendrik Clarke, the great grandmaster sat many a days under many conditions the great grandmaster Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana and they told me as a grandson of them… always keep Mother Africa in the heart, a united Africa. So to honouring my elders I am on my way to Accra. The Daywalker is coming to Accra…,” he said.

He was captured in the video together with Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Wesley was among a number of personalities who met with President Akufo-Addo in Davos, Switzerland, where the President is participating in the 50th anniversary celebration of the World Economic Forum Annual Meetings.

A photo Gabby shared on Facebook Thursday captured the President with American billionaire businessman Robert Smith, Wesley Snipes, Ozwald Boateng, Kojo Annan and a host of other influential figures in Davos.

According to Gabby, they shared “ideas on how to leverage part of the multi-trillion dollar wealth of the African Diaspora to move Ghana (and Africa).”

Wesley Snipes was also among key listeners at a Ghana dinner held in Davos as Ken Ofori-Atta spoke on why invest in Ghana.

He would be joining the likes of Naomi Campbell, Michael Jai White, Tina Knowles Lawson, Samuel L Jackson, Steve Harvey and a host of others who visited Ghana as part of the ‘Year of Return’ 2019 programme which has now been upgraded to ‘Beyond The Return’ 2020.
Source: dailyguidenetwork. com
]]><![CDATA[Christiansborg Castle is a museum - Ghana Museums and Monuments Board]]>Thu, 14 Mar 2019 12:45:20 GMThttps://www.ghananet.co.uk/tourism-news/christiansborg-castle-is-a-museum-ghana-museums-and-monuments-boardAs of to date, March 14, 2019, it is unfortunately just a cover up news. The castle cannot be visited at this time uninvited! There are no museum facilities!
​The Ghana Museums and Monuments Board has said the Christiansborg Castle, popularly known as the Osu Castle is not a security installation but rather a museum.
PictureOsu Castle, Accra
​In the statement signed by the Acting Executive Director, Kingsley Ofosu Ntiamoah, the Board said the former seat of government now has a similar status like the Elmina and Cape Coast Castles backing government’s response that the facility is not a security zone but was being transformed into a museum.

This denial comes on the back of a Joy News documentary which revealed how a pro-New Patriotic Party militia group is being trained at the Osu-based Castle.

The documentary questioned why the facility which was supposed to be a security zone was being used for such purposes.

The undercover work carried out by Manasseh Azure Awuni disclosed how a former bodyguard of President Akufo-Addo led the training of the militia group, De-Eye, on the grounds of public property.

Operating for the past two years, the journalist found that the group had already provided security for a number of party functions which the president had been present.

Government has already denied that the Castle is a security zone.
​Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said, “Indeed it is a facility operated by the Museums and Monuments Board, after President Akufo-Addo, on March 5, 2017, tasked the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to spearhead its transformation into a museum.

“The general public may refer to news items of March 5, 2017, the date on which President Akufo-Addo gave that directive,” the statement added.

The Board said “on March 5, 2017, the President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo publicly declared and inaugurated the Osu Castle as a Presidential Museum of Leadership and governance.

“The Osu Castle has since this act, above stated, by the President of the Republic, has and to date remains a museum,” the statement said.
Museums of Ghana, Ghana Castles, Ghana Forts,
This information was retrieved from ghanamuseums.org
​However, Joy News’ check on the Board’s website on March 11, 2019, at 5 pm does not show the Christianborg Castle as one of the country’s numerous museums.

Below is a copy of the full statement:
Picture
Cover Up statement, regarding Osu Castle
]]><![CDATA[Former Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) - Akua Blakofe: Ghanaians are a special breed of greedy, evil people]]>Wed, 13 Mar 2019 22:27:13 GMThttps://www.ghananet.co.uk/tourism-news/former-deputy-ceo-of-the-ghana-tourism-development-company-gtdc-akua-blakofe-ghanaians-are-a-special-breed-of-greedy-evil-people​Source: kasapafmonline. com - Former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) Oheneba Akua Manfo, popularly known as Akua Blakofe has expressed disappointment in the Akufo-Addo’s led Government on their failed corruption fight.
​She took to social media platform Facebook stating her reasons for leaving her post as the Deputy CEO of the GTDC few months after appointment by the President, Nana Akufo Addo.

In a lengthy post, aggrieved Blakofe stated that she personally campaigned for the ruling New Patriotic Party because she believed the Akufo-Addo’s track record on corruption.

According to her, she has regretted taking up that good cause which has now turned a mirage.

She accused Madam Catherine Afeku, Chief Executive Officers of Ghana Tourism Development Company [GTDC] and Ghana Tourism Authority for travelling every month outside Ghana without considering the need Ghanaian Tourism industry, labelling them as International tourists’.

Read Akua Blakofe’s post below.

Sadly, I’m now tired and HAVE GIVEN UP. GHANA WILL NEVER WORK, NOT IN MY LIFETIME. After 23 years back home, I now have to accept that Ghanaians back home are a special breed of greedy, evil people.

I’m done. Returning to UK. Wasted my youth here. Won’t waste any more of my life thinking about Gh. Let it burn. After what the GTDC board did to me, I’ve nothing left to offer Gh.

I don’t t know if you’re all aware, but I campaigned for CHANGE based SOLELY ON AKUFO-ADDO’s NO CORRUPTION stance. I was appointed into tourism in Feb 2017. By August I was ready to resign because all that was happening was Minister, GTA CEO AND GTDC CEO traveling for 2/3 WEEKS STRAIGHT, EACH MONTH. Instead of doing Gh tourism, they have become international tourists. I resigned and gave the board and President via First Lady my ideas for tourism, for example instead of travelling, I suggested we first clean our country. I mean, how do you travel to a clean country and invite the people there to visit your smelly, filthy country? Anyway, the board treated me like a criminal. Meanwhile the travelers are still at post. Gtdc doesn’t have a website. Yet the CEO has a budget for business class, top hotels, per diem, transport, food, shopping, nightclubbing etc. I see!

Anyway, I’m done with GH. Let it rot. Let it burn. I no longer care. I tried for 23 years. It rather made me hated. And truly observing the last 23 years, I see Gh is actually going backwards.

I’m currently out of Gh and for the first time in 23 years, I have nothing positive to say about my motherland. Sad, sad, sad. But I’ve been pushed to this point. Let Gh burn, rot, whatever… It’s no longer my concern.

Peace. Akua Blakofe
]]><![CDATA[World bank boost Ghana tourism with $40m grant]]>Fri, 22 Feb 2019 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.ghananet.co.uk/tourism-news/world-bank-boost-ghana-tourism-with-40m-grantPresident Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has announced that the World Bank has approved a $40 million grant to support the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Arts and its agencies to help upgrade tourist facilities.

The President said the Ghana Tourism Authority recorded a 20 per cent growth, recording over 600,000 visitations to various tourist sites under the “See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana and Feel Ghana campaign”.
The campaign was to encourage the consumption locally manufactured beverages in the country to boost the economy.

The President made the announcement on Thursday in Accra in his third State of the Nation Address to Parliament.

He said the country had finalised the Creative Arts Bill, leading to the setting up of the Creative Arts Fund, adding that, in 2018, government provided support to the Creative Arts Council, and the Creative Arts Masterclass, to build capacity of Creative Arts practitioners in the sector.

“The Eastern Regional Theatre had been completed, and work was ongoing towards the construction of the Kumasi theatre”, he added.

He said the Hospitality Training Institute had been renovated, and re-opened in July 2018 to provide the needed training in the hospitality and tourism sectors. 

“Under a Tourism Attractions Upgrade Project, several tourist sites, including Elmina Heritage Bay, Axim Fort St. Antonio, Assin Manso Slave River, Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm, Bunso Arboretum, Kintampo Water Falls, are undergoing upgrades”. 

He said a draft Legislative Instrument on Sites and Attractions was currently undergoing final stakeholder consultations to ensure that world-class standards were set and maintained at all tourism sites.

Touching on support to persons with disabilities, President Akufo-Addo announced an increase share of the District Assemblies Common Fund to Persons with Disabilities from 2 per cent to 3 per cent.

He added that, government had ensured the implementation of its pledge of employing 50 per cent of the persons who manage the country’s toll booths from amongst Persons with Disabilities.
​Source: GNA (Ghana News Agency)
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