The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has received the Outstanding Tourism Event in Africa award for its “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” initiatives at the 25th-anniversary celebration of the GOGE Africa Festival in Lagos, Nigeria.

The award was presented on 27 October 2024 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena (Onikan Stadium) in Lagos. Representing GTA CEO Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, Mr. Moses Ndewin Ndebugri, Director of the Upper West Region, and Mr. Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi, Deputy Director of Domestic Marketing, accepted the honour.

The award recognises the significant impact of Ghana’s cultural tourism programmes, which have strengthened global ties within the African diaspora. The “Year of Return” and its follow-up, “Beyond the Return,” have played a key role in celebrating African heritage, uniting the African continent, and positioning Ghana as a prime cultural destination.

This year’s GOGE Africa Festival, themed “Symphony of Cultures,” attracted more than 20,000 attendees from 32 countries. The event celebrated African heritage through exhibitions, parades, music, dance, and culinary competitions, with the “Our Shared Heritage” segment highlighting the historical and cultural unity of African nations.

Mr. Kusi underscored Nigeria’s importance as Africa’s largest tourism market and highlighted Ghana’s aggressive efforts to promote its tourism offerings.

GOGE Africa founders, Isaac Moses and Mrs. Nneka Moses, lauded Ghana’s commitment to promoting Africa as a key tourism destination, especially through the “Beyond the Return” initiative.

Launched in 2019, the “Year of Return” attracted over 1.18 million visitors from across the globe, with the “Beyond the Return” initiative continuing to build on that success. The program focuses on seven key pillars aimed at unlocking Ghana’s tourism potential and fostering economic and cultural partnerships.

Source:TheDotNews