President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has charged the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Arts as well as the Ghana Tourism Authority to build a lasting legacy which will make Ghana a true heritage pilgrimage destination for Africans living in the diaspora.

“The Tourism Authority has reported gains and growth across several indices with visitor arrivals, per capita spends of visitors, number of establishments, number of tourist's facilities etc since we assumed the reins of Government,” he said.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, at the 15th Edition of the Ghana Tourism Awards, the President noted that the tourism sector under his government is receiving the needed push with the ministry elevated to cabinet status.

He, however, indicated that he has been following keenly the various activities happening under the tourism sector such as the Year of Return project with the TINA festival, the black history month celebration of the African American Association of Ghana and the Back to Africa activities.

He added that the ministry is improving several tourist sites such as the Axim Fort St. Antonio project, Assin Manso Slave River project, Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm, Bunso Aboretrem, Kintampo waterfalls and the Elmina Heritage Bay project.

This, he said is in line with the ongoing destination single window automation programme and the marketing programs such as visit Ghana, see Ghana, eat Ghana, wear Ghana and feel Ghana are all part of integral plans to transform the sector.

He reiterated that “the ongoing 40million dollar World Bank Tourism development program is also an added bonus to this drive to make our Tourism sector grow.”