Ghana Tourism Authority in a combined effort with Beyond The Return Secretariat both under the auspices of the Ministry Tourism, Arts and Culture have set forth the first batch of listed events for ‘December in GH’ 2023 .
The Accra Tourist Information Centre, on Thursday, August 10, 2023 witnessed the gathering of distinguished media personalities, radio pundits and prominent industry players from the creative arts industry in Ghana to officially launch the first batch of endorsed events set to take place throughout this year’s festive season.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority(GTA), Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, in his opening remarks, relayed that December goes beyond being an ordinary month in Ghana but rather a spirit that opens Ghana to the world and gives Africans all over the world an opportunity to connect and find their roots of origin. Mr. Agyeman revealed that this year’s edition of December in GH shall be the fifth since its inception in 2019, and spoke of the huge revenue that comes into the country as a result of the influx of tourists.
Analysis reports submitted in 2022 by the Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal stated that events that kept tourists on their toes during the previous season were Afrochella, Little Havanna, Taste of Ghana, Afro Nation, YouTube Creators Festival, Westside Carnival, Rhythms on Da Runway and the Roverman Productions Festival of Plays.
According to the Director of ‘Beyond The Return Secretariat’ Annabelle Mckenzie, one hundred and twenty eight event proposals were received this year as of June 2, 2023 and thoroughly scrutinized by a 13 member steering committee for ‘Beyond The Return’ initiative. This committee has been assigned to ensure that all events that shall be endorsed, are in line with at least one of the seven pillars that firmly ground ‘Beyond The Return’ initiative; Experience Ghana, Celebrate Ghana, Invest in Ghana, Brand Ghana, Give Back Ghana, Diaspora Pathways to Ghana, and Promote Pan-African heritage and Innovation.
Steering Committee member, Prof. Esi Sutherland-Addy following this said, “Some event organizers think they can just slap Africa on any kind of event they want as part of the endorsed events and then that’s it. No! the events must be in line with what we aim to achieve. The endorsement of the committee is the endorsement of the government of Ghana.”
Mr. Reginald D. Laryea who officially launched the event charged the media to use its influence to arouse the interest of Ghanaians about ‘December in GH’. “This is a charge to the press; a newspaper could have a special ‘December in GH’ edition. You could have quizzes, essays, programs and even the media, if it’s a radio station you can have, ‘December in GH’ segments. Please help us to generate the kind of interest to make the ‘December in GH’ 2023 a success.”
Other key speakers and guests who graced the occasion were, Managing Director of Apstar Tours, Madam Stella Apenteng, Chief Executive of K-Archy & Company, Mr. Kwame Acheampong Boateng, and Executive Secretary of the Pan African Festival of Arts and Culture (PANAFEST), Mr. Rabbi Kohain Nathany Ah Halevi.
Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Presidency, Akwasi Awua Ababio, emphasized on the need for all Ghanaians to put more effort in keeping Ghana at the pedestal of excellence when it comes to representing Africa and telling the right story of the Ghanaian people. “Other African countries are also trying their best to do what we are doing; so we need to work on ourselves to keep giving them what they love to see every year; the competition is out there already but we should not be worried about it; we have been touting Ghana as the gateway so when they come through Ghana of course they are allowed to go elsewhere. But they have to come to Ghana.”
Beyond the Return is a ten year initiative, themed “A decade of African Renaissance”. It is the follow-up-to the successful ‘Year of Return’ campaign in 2019 that invited the global African diaspora to visit Ghana.
Beyond The Return is upheld strongly by seven pillars which are geared towards engagement and building strong relations with the diaspora community.
‘December in GH’ promises to bring about a constant atmosphere of African heritage and Ghanaian unity through the events that have been endorsed under the alignment of at least one pillar of Beyond The Return; Experience Ghana, Celebrate Ghana, Invest in Ghana, Brand Ghana, Give Back Ghana, Diaspora Pathways to Ghana, and Promote Pan-African heritage and Innovation.
By: Kobina Baidoo