Two hundred thousand more tourists visited Ghana this year as a result of the “Year of Return’ initiative.
This is fifty thousand more than the target set by the Ghana Tourist Authority when the initiative was launched last year.
The ‘Year of Return” which was used to mark the 400th Anniversary of the first enslaved Africans to Jamestown in the US has seen world-class celebrities including Actors Boris Kodjoe, Nicole Parker, talk show host Steve Harvey, American rappers T.I and Cardi B among others.
At an event to discuss what happens beyond the ‘Year of Return”, President Akufo Addo said the focus should now be on engaging Africans in the diaspora and all people of African descent in areas of trade, investment and skills transfer.
One hundred and fifty thousand tourists were expected in the country this year but the figure has exceeded the target.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the interest showed in the ‘Year of Return’ initiative must be sustained.
The President cited the case of China where the Chinese diaspora provided the basis for China’s development by contributing as much as 26 billion dollars to the Chinese economy.
This he said should be the focus now.
The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Ian Walker said the UK is ready to build on the success of the “Year of Return’.
The event brought together more than 150 British Ghanaians who discussed investing in Africa and bridging the skills gap in the Continent.
