The Northern Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) celebrated this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD) with a tree-planting exercise at Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale, Northern Region.
World Tourism Day, celebrated by member-countries of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on September 27, centred on the theme ‘Tourism and Green Investment‘. Its aim is to raise global awareness about the pivotal role of tourism in social, cultural, political and economic spheres.
The Northern Regional Manager for GTA, Angelo Yossi Dogbe, explained that in the exercise collaborative effort, GTA partnered with the Northern Chapter of the Ghana Hoteliers Association, Ghanasco Tourism Club and the History Club to instil in schoolchildren the values of the government’s Green Ghana Project, designed to combat climate change and safeguard the environment.
He praised the efforts of the Ghanasco Tourism Club in promoting tourism within the region, underscoring the significance of this tree-planting initiative within the school’s grounds.
“The natural resources need to be sustained and protected to enhance the tourism sector for economic and academic growth,” he said as about 70 seedlings were planted at the school premises, including acacia, mangoes, palm tree, neem, orange and lemon, among others.
Addressing the members, executives and patrons of the club, he urged them to be responsible stewards of the newly planted trees, emphasising that their care and nurture would ensure they flourish and become an enduring legacy for the club and its members. He assured stakeholders that GTA would actively monitor the project to ensure its successful realisation.
Regional Chairman of the Hoteliers Association, Gilbert Dery, used the occasion to advocate for the inclusion of a tourism curriculum that would foster domestic tourism and preserve cultural heritage. He also highlighted the importance of motivating the country’s youth to participate in tourism activities, thereby igniting their interest in a tourism-driven future.
“As hospitality industry operators, we are committed to introducing innovative programmes at our facilities to attract more tourists and investors, ultimately contributing to economic growth,” he stated.
Patron for the Ghanasco Tourism Club, Rashid M. Sulemana, expressed his gratitude to GTA and the Hoteliers Association for their support in providing seedlings to protect the environment.
Mr. Sulemana, who doubles as the History teacher in the school, noted that tree-planting dovetails into the programme for the beautification of the school has been a project that management has taken upon themselves to make the place a serene one.
He welcomed the collaboration with the Green Ghana Project and urged all schools to undertake similar tree-planting exercises.
“Planting the trees and protecting them are two different issues; so currently, the club has taken it upon itself to protect the trees, ensuring that they bear fruit for humanity and the next generation,” he said.
