Page 106 - Powerlist 2020

FOCUS ON GHANA
Go-to Ghana making

all the right moves

A year-long campaign has made the West African country a
serious contender for tourists and international investors alike.
By Sharon Davis

ecognised as one of the fastest- would not be a one-off initiative, but
growing economies and a rising would sow long-term seeds in the
Rstar in Africa, Ghana is also minds of travellers across the world,
quickly building a reputation as a top plus Divine says there are plans in
tourist destination with celebrities and place to ensure there is a sustainable
travellers flocking to the country. The programme in 2020 and beyond.
recent boost in tourism is down to the While it’s clear the Year of Return has
Year of Return initiative, which marked positively affected the country’s public
400 years since the first African slaves profile and tourism industry, it’s yet to
arrived on American soil, with Ghana be seen how it will influence long-term
being one of the key African bases economic development. According
during the transatlantic slave trade. Kakum National Park to the Santander Trade Portal, Ghana
The year-long celebration of ‘African is politically stable, boasts a steady
resilience’ was the mastermind of to Divine Owusu-Ansah, Assistant economy, a growing consumer base
Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, Director at the Ghanaian Ministry of and an expanding stock exchange,
whose aim was to attract Ghanaians Tourism, Arts and Culture, arrivals at the making it a competitive contender for
living outside of Ghana and the broader capital’s Kotoka International Airport foreign investment.
black community. increased by 35 per cent in 2019, and British-born Ghanaian Jeffrey
The campaign began at the end of he has described the impact of the Boateng, who lives in the UK and
December 2018 with the inaugural initiative as “economically, socially, has businesses in the UK and Ghana,
Full Circle Festival organised by Boris touristically and financially very great”. believes now is great time to invest:
Kodjoe and Bozoma Saint John, which President Akufo-Addo has big plans “There are several investment
was attended by high-profile celebrities to put Ghana on the map by taking opportunities in Ghana such as
such as Naomi Campbell and Idris Elba. tourist numbers up to four million high-interest bank accounts which
This was followed by a jam-packed by 2027, whereas numbers have you can see a return from over a three,
programme of events in 2019 across traditionally hung just below the one six, nine or 12-month period. In the
Ghana and beyond to shine a spotlight million mark. transport industry you could partner
on the West African country. According The hope is that the Year of Return with Uber drivers by providing vehicles

106 Powerlist 2020