Accra, July 6, GNA - The Deputy Minister for Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, Mr Boniface Abubakar Saddique on Saturday said the ministry had developed a strategic plan to attract over one million tourists into the country within the next four years. As a Gateway to the West Africa sub-region, the ministry intended to develop, package, promote and market tourists centres as well as offer attractive incentive for both local and foreign tourists to stay and enjoy the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality, he said.

Mr Saddique announced this at the 9th Graduation ceremony of the EKGS Catering Institute in Accra where 40 students graduated in cake making and decoration, cookery, and pastry making. The Deputy Minister said the concern of the ministry was to give the government's concept of Golden Age of Business a reality through the development of tourist centres and making revenue generated hit the height of Ghana's Gross Domestic Products (GDP). He said Ghana, as a tourists' destination required developed local and international menu alongside adequate accommodation and good service, which calls for human resource development and the maintenance of trained professionals in the industry. Mr Saddique said the ministry intended to move away from the concentration on known traditional tourists centres and develop other more attractive ones.

In a welcoming address, Mrs. Efuah Goode-Arthur, Director of the Institute appealed to the government to wave taxes on imported items for the hospitality industry as these taxes made the country a very expensive tourists destination in Africa. She advised professionals to eschew dishonest practices, regularly improve upon their skills to keep up with the pace of modernization and be more courteous to customers.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency at end of the ceremony, the former Deputy Minister of Social Welfare and Employment, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe commended the institute for responding to the needs of women who were mostly breadwinners of their families but lacked skills to make them gainfully employed. "Women empowerment has become necessary and any further action to alleviate poverty among women and helping them to acquire skills, must be appreciated," she said.