Tourism Minister pushes for better roads to boost sector revenue
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Abena Dzifa Gomashie, has underscored the urgent need for improved road infrastructure to Ghana’s tourist sites, stressing that poor access remains one of the biggest constraints to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
Speaking at a Blue Economy workshop jointly organised with the Ministry of Fisheries and allied agencies, the Minister highlighted the immense opportunities along Ghana’s coastline and other regions across the country.
“If we as Ghanaians want to tap into the Blue Economy, then we must pay attention to our coastline. Tourism sites across the regions are scattered, and in every part of the country there is something extraordinary to showcase,” she said.
Madam Gomashie noted that despite tourism’s contribution of more than GH¢4.8 billion to Ghana’s GDP, the infrastructure supporting the sector, especially roads leading to tourist destinations, remains inadequate.
“Without good roads, we have still managed to contribute over GH¢4.8 billion to GDP. Imagine what will happen if the roads are fixed and small infrastructure projects are put in place to boost activities around these sites. The impact on revenue would be enormous,” she stated.
Madam Gomashie revealed that her ministry has been engaging with stakeholders, including Members of Parliament, to lobby for infrastructure investment.
“I have appealed to my colleague, Hon Kwame Abuja, to assist us. He has not refused, but as you know, the national kitty is small. One thing must be tackled at a time. My hope, however, is that by the end of next year, many of these roads leading to our tourist sites will see significant improvement,” she emphasised.
The Minister reiterated that road infrastructure is “as important as the product itself” in positioning Ghana’s tourism sector for global competitiveness and ensuring the sustainable growth of the Blue Economy.
