Minister Tasks Tourism Heads to Accelerate Work

Hon Oboshie Sai Cofie Speaking to heads of agencies under her Ministry 

In line with her vision to make tourism one of the major revenue and foreign exchange earners in Ghana, Hon. Oboshie Sai Cofie, Minister for Tourism and Diasporan Relations has urged various heads under the ministry and tourism-related agencies to accelerate work on projects to ensure that targets are met this year.

 
She has therefore assured the industry of government's unflinching support to push tourism in Ghana forward and to mobilize financial resources and other logistics to facilitate its work.

Hon.Oboshie Sai Cofie made this call when she addressed heads of departments and related agencies under her ministry during a Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations Mid-Year Performance Review Seminar held at the Forest Hotel at Dodowa recently.

 
The Hon  Minister pointed out that the need for developing countries such as Ghana to explore avenues to diversify the economy, create wealth and reduce poverty within communities has become more critical with the present global challenges.

'Fortunately for Ghana, the huge tourism potential in terms of our existing cultural, historical and natural attractions coupled with political stability, peace and tranquility and the emerging good image for the country, our celebrated Ghanaian hospitality and steady improvements of our infrastructure, provide us with a good basis and justification to harness and optimise the use of our resources for development,' she noted.

She challenged directors and various agency heads under the ministry to work assiduously and accelerate progress on existing projects to ensure that the ministry's importance in contributing to the overall economic growth of the country is fully realised.

 
'You would agree with me that global challenges triggered by surging fuel and food prices have placed much pressure on many countries and Ghana is no exception.  I have no doubts that if we position ourselves well through our programmes and projects, then we can reap a fair share of the lucrative global tourist trade in terms of foreign earnings and other economic benefits such as employment for our youth and women,' she stressed.

 
The 2008 Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations Mid-Year Performance Review provided the opportunity for the country's tourism administration front-liners to take stock of how they have fared in implementing policies and programmes and plans ahead. It was also to review planned strategies and possibly re-strategise towards achieving desired goals.