Ghana expects more tourists

Accra, April 6, GNA - Ghana expects some one million tourist visitors
in 2007 with an expected income of two billion dollars, an official of
the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations said on Thursday.
Mr Abeeku Dickson, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism
and Diasporan Relations, said 428,533 tourists were recorded to have
visited Ghana in 2005 giving the nation about 836 million dollars. The
number of arrivals increased by 16 per cent in 2006.
He said the expected increase in 2007 was as a result of "The
Joseph Project", which would come to a climax between July and August
this year.Mr Dickson said the increase in inflows showed that the
ministry had more room to improve when given the needed assistance.
The Joseph Project is aimed at reconciling and uniting Africans
who had lost contact with their roots back home to contribute to the
realization of African goals.
The celebration, which has a major theme: "Re-uniting the African
Family" would also revolve around sub-themes such as "Honouring our
African," "Pan-Africanism", "Emancipation, our Heritage our Strength".
Mr Dickson noted that the number of forts and castles along
Ghana's coastline showed that most slaves passed through its shores
and it was significant that these shores again became their first
point of their entry."Like the Biblical Joseph, some have risen above
their captivity and are shining examples of the best of human spirit."
Mr Dickson said the government intended to convert James Fort in
Accra, which kept the first slaves and prisoners, into a home of
"African Excellence Experience" for all Africans from all walks of
life who triumphed over slavery. Mr Dickson noted that the slave trade
was not accepted by some Africans and Ghanaians in particular saying
"Gwollu, in the North West of Ghana, put up protective wall against
slave raiders and the Kyebis in the Eastern Region never traded in
slaves".He said the Ministry would, in future form a Committee of
Africans in the Homeland and in the Diaspora to select men and women
who qualify to be the "Josephs" of today.