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Ghana Targets 70% Rise in Tourist Arrivals by 2029 as Ministry Seeks Stronger Parliamentary Backing Ghana Targets 70% Rise in Tourist Arrivals by 2029 as Ministry Seeks Stronger Parliamentary Backing

Ghana's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has formally called on Parliament to lend stronger support to the country's tourism, cultural, and creative sectors, as the West African nation pushes to cement its position as a premier destination and cultural powerhouse on the continent. The appeal came during a high-level engagement between Ministry officials and Parliament's Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, chaired by Alexander Hottordze.

Representing Sector Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Deputy Minister Yussif Issaka Jajah presented the Ministry's strategic vision before the Committee, outlining the priorities that will define the country's tourism trajectory for the years ahead. Jajah underlined how tourism, culture, and the creative arts continue to play a central role in Ghana's economic transformation by generating jobs, attracting foreign exchange, supporting community development, and drawing in investment. The Ministry's Medium-Term Development Plan (2026–2029) sets an ambitious course, targeting a 50 percent increase in tourism revenue and a 70 percent rise in both international and domestic arrivals by 2029. Revenue from the culture and creative arts segment is also expected to grow by 40 percent, supported by market expansion, digital innovation, strategic partnerships, and enhanced backing for creative enterprises.

Several recent achievements signal the sector's growing momentum. Among the most notable is the successful inscription of Highlife Music on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a milestone that elevates Ghana's cultural identity on the world stage. The Ministry has also launched the Ghana Tourism Marketplace and the Ghana Tourism Investment Platform, two initiatives crafted to attract investment and broaden tourism opportunities across regions of the country.

Capacity building has not been left behind. According to the Deputy Minister, 488 tourism service providers have undergone professional training, while 193 students have graduated through programmes run by the Hotel, Catering and Tourism Training Institute (HOTCATT). To strengthen the screen and creative economy, government has set aside GH¢40 million for the film and creative arts industries, with GH¢20 million ring-fenced specifically for the Film Development Fund. Adding further weight to the country's cultural infrastructure agenda, Ghana has secured a US\$30 million grant from China to rehabilitate and modernise the National Theatre of Ghana—a project expected to significantly enhance the nation's creative landscape.

Public interest in Ghana's heritage attractions is also rising rapidly. The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has seen its social media following surge from around 475 to more than 14,000 within just eight months, illustrating how digital engagement is reshaping the visitor experience. The National Folklore Board, meanwhile, has stepped up its work in protecting and monetising Ghana's cultural assets, recently securing royalties from 70 entities.

Despite this encouraging progress, Jajah was candid about the obstacles still constraining the sector. Inadequate funding, delayed budget releases, infrastructure deficits, outdated equipment, weak ICT systems, staffing shortages, and low enrolment at HOTCATT were all cited as pressing concerns. Resolving these issues, he stressed, will be critical if the Ministry's ambitious growth targets are to be realised.

Responding on behalf of Parliament, Chairman Hottordze welcomed the engagement as both timely and necessary, noting that the Committee had not previously had a direct opportunity to assess the Ministry's operations, achievements, and challenges in full detail. He acknowledged the concerns raised, particularly around budget allocations, logistical limitations, ageing vehicles, deteriorating infrastructure, and skills gaps, and emphasised the importance of bolstering training programmes and upgrading facilities at HOTCATT.

For Africa's wider travel industry, Ghana's renewed push offers valuable lessons. The country's combination of cultural depth, diaspora appeal, and strategic investment in creative infrastructure positions it as a destination to watch closely. As West Africa continues to expand its share of the continent's tourism economy, professionals across the region should anticipate stronger collaboration opportunities, fresh investment openings, and an increasingly competitive marketplace where heritage, music, and creative storytelling become powerful magnets for global travellers.