By Samuel SAM
Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) Mr. Angelo Dogbe, has stressed the need to create an enabling environment that will attract both domestic and foreign investors by fostering innovations that drive job creation.
The region is rich in cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes and abundant natural resources, but some challenges have hindered full realisation of the potential – hence the need for a pivotal moment so as to unite and chart a new course toward economic empowerment and sustainable development, he said.
This could be done by ensuring and investing in young entrepreneurs of the country, by providing them with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy, he added.
“Through training programmes, educational initiatives and vocational schemes, we can unlock hidden talents and ignite the entrepreneurial spirit of our youth within respective communities of the country,” he explained.
Government also needs to collaborate with the private sector and other investors to channel a new course toward economic empowerment and sustainable development for the youth, he stressed.
The Regional Director made these remarks during the Northern Trade, Industry, and Industrial Summit second edition in Tamale.
The four-day event is on the theme of this summit, ‘Enhancing Trade and Industry in Northern Ghana through Capacity Development and Strategic Investment’.
According to him, exploring new avenues for growth, development and prosperity in the region would help to create job opportunities, market the region’s potentials to investors as well contribute to the national agenda for economic growth.
However, capacity development alone is not sufficient; strategic investment is crucial to catalyse growth and stimulate economic activity, he noted.
Moreover, we must also leverage on unique cultural heritage and natural assets to boost the tourism and hospitality industries by showcasing the beauty of our landscapes, the vibrancy of our traditions and warmth of our hospitality to attract visitors from around the world, which would go a long way to generate revenue and also create employment opportunities for our people, he said.
He encouraged development partners, investors and government agencies dedicated to advancing development and improving the country’s economy to focus some attention on the tourism sector to help unlock the region’s tourism potential.
He reiterated the commitment of government to promoting sustainable development practices that prioritise environmental conservation, social inclusivity and equitable growth.
He also encouraged tourists to explore the historical Saakpuli slave wells, the 15th-century baobab tree where slaves were traded, relics of the slave trade, the slave cemetery and the mesmerizing ox-bow lake.
At Yendi, he noted that tourists can pay a visit to the Yaa Na’s Palace, delve into the history at the babatu slave-raiders tomb, the Greenwich Meridian, as well as the Naa Datatua and Adibo sites, he said.
