Accra, July 3, GNA- Mr Jake O. Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City on Thursday said Africa would only have a fair share of the global tourism industry if her developmental needs were addressed.

He said challenges such as issues of poverty, famine, disease, wars, negative image from the international press and discrimination in prices of goods and services were hindering the developmental efforts of most African countries. "Addressing these challenges can be done through the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)," he said. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey was speaking at a luncheon with Participants of the On-going 12th Annual US-Africa Sister Cities Conference, which opened in Accra on Monday.

The seven-day conference, being attended by about 700 participants from US and other African countries is on the theme, "Strengthening Sister Cities in Africa - A focus on HIV/AIDS Crises, Business, Trade Investment and Democratic Governance." He said tourism was within NEPAD's market access initiative, and it was important that African countries strategised and implemented activities and programmes that would bring out the potential of the tourism sector to the benefit all. "We need to pool resources to develop an inter-regional marketing strategy that will give Africa a positive image and not for it to be seen as a continent of war, rancour and conflict," he said.

Mr Obetsebi-lamptey said it was for such reason that the US Africa Sister Cities Concept, as a catalyst to forge close collaboration and partnership, not only between the people of Africa and those in the Americas but amongst the people of Africa was timely. "The concept of reaching out to one another is a concept we must embrace," he said. He said the objective for the development agenda could be achieved if "only the necessary enabling environment is created through good governance, transparency, absence of war and conflict on the continent and the spreading of more kindness, joy, love and happiness".