Volta Region tackles tourism head on
Traditional drumming and dancing were beautifully on display at the first Volta Regional Tourism Fair held at Sogakofe recently.
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What stood out, however, was the determination on the faces of hospitality practitioners who had trooped to the Shekinah Hotel conference to engage on how to move tourism in the region forward.
As the only region which stretches from the coast to the north, the Volta Region literally stands tall in the scheme of tourism in Ghana. This also implies that in terms of variety, it offers value experience for travellers and tourists.
Additionally, by its location in the far-flung East, the region is also off the beaten track which many customers find appealing.
To break it down, the region has an abundance of natural, cultural and historical resources. It has three different vegetation and climatic zones. The destination boasts a diversity of ethnic groupings.
The region also has a unique history which spans the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial eras.
In the face of all these resources and opportunities, has the region leveraged its position? Above all, what can stakeholders do to up their game in the industry in the tourism sector?
These were some of the questions which drew tourism professionals from all sectors to the maiden event. To see the likes of Dzifah Gomashie, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ken Dzirasah a former deputy Speaker of Parliament and the representations from the Ghana Investment Promotion Council showed how serious the affair was.
Among those present who provided the insight that participants wanted were Nkunu Akyea, a heritage consultant, Frank Kofigah, former Deputy Executive Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Kwame Gyasi, Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourism Authority and Professor Kwaku Boakye, Head of Tourism and Hospitality Department, University of Cape Coast.
As expected, the problems as chronicled were similar to those prevailing in other parts of the country: poor information and communication flow, delays in processing documents and acquisition of permits, exorbitant fees, poor or inadequate management skills, poor maintenance of facilities/sites and the inability or reluctance of the individual private sector operators to form consortiums to invest in tourism plants.
Perhaps, one of the points folks would remember most was conference consensus that they must begin to lobby other agencies whose remit is outside the purview of the sector ministry but who engage practitioners in their operations.
Another point is that with a united front, practitioners could also lobby to put roads to attractions in better shape.
For those who might think that not much was achieved at the Sogakofe forum, the point is that it is a beginning. And great things sometimes start that way. Already, there is talk that other regions may pick up the model.
The venue of the event itself bears testimony to the greatness of small beginnings. Established by Mr Maxwell Amekpor, the conference host and convener, Shekinah Glory Hotel started in 2006 with only five rooms. Four years later, it upgraded to 28 rooms with a conference hall and a swimming pool.
In 2013, the hotel earned a two star status as it had created 19 more rooms, another conference hall and a gym. Today, Shekinah Glory Hotel boasts an additional two twin blocks bringing the total number of rooms to 83.
The regional tourism forum was also to mark the 10th anniversary of the hotel.It is expected that the next time such a forum happens, the theme would not be ‘Harnessing the Tourism Potential of the Volta Region.’
Hopefully, the future theme should set out to count tourism achievements chalked by this beautiful region.
The writer is a Communication and Tourism Specialist. Books he has authored include ‘Romancing Ghanaland- the Beauty of Ten Regions’, Tickling the Ghanaian-Encounters with Contemporary Culture & ‘Harmattan- a Cultural Profile of Northern Ghana.’ [email protected]