Mr Akwasi Agyeman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the African Hospitality and Culture Association (AFCHAT) and former CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), has called for increased and predictable government funding for the tourism, culture and creative arts sector.
He said the omission of tourism from the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review was a major concern, given the sector’s contribution to employment, foreign exchange earnings and economic diversification.
Mr Agyeman said tourism had demonstrated its potential to become one of the pillars of Ghana’s economy, particularly as the country sought to reduce its dependence on a few traditional exports.
In an article titled: “Wanted: A ‘Big Push’ for Tourism,” he said the sector had largely survived on private-sector investment, diaspora goodwill and the efforts of industry operators despite its significant contribution to the economy.
“When a sector this important is left completely out of a major budget statement, it tells you exactly where that sector sits in the country’s real spending priorities, no matter how good it sounds in speeches,” he said.
Mr Agyeman cited the success of the 2019 Year of Return and the Beyond the Return initiative as evidence of Ghana’s ability to attract international and diaspora visitors.
He said the launch of the Black Star Experience had also raised expectations that Ghana would further strengthen its position as a leading tourism destination.
However, he noted that neighbouring countries, including The Gambia, Senegal, South Africa, Rwanda and Nigeria, were making significant investments in tourism promotion, infrastructure and destination branding.
Mr Agyeman said Ghana could not afford to rely on its previous achievements while competing destinations invested heavily to attract the same international visitors, diaspora tourists and conference delegates.
He cited South Africa’s tourism budget, Rwanda’s investment in destination branding and Nigeria’s Ipada initiative as examples of deliberate government-backed efforts to grow tourism.
He said Ghana, which pioneered the Year of Return concept on the continent, risked losing its competitive advantage if it failed to invest adequately in the sector.
Call for dedicated funding
Mr Agyeman called on the Ministry of Finance to provide the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts with a clear and protected allocation in the national budget.
He said such funding should go beyond reliance on the Tourism Development Fund administered by the Ghana Tourism Authority.
“The over-reliance on the Tourism Development Fund administered by the Ghana Tourism Authority must give way to major national budget funding similar to what the ‘Big Push’ is to our roads,” he said.
He said sustained funding was required to market Ghana internationally, maintain heritage and cultural sites, train tourism and hospitality professionals, and develop new tourism products.
Mr Agyeman said the private sector and other industry stakeholders were ready to work with the government to transform the sector, but needed “steady, protected and predictable funding.”
Tourism revenue
He said Ghana welcomed more than 1.3 million international visitors in 2025 and earned an estimated $4.34 billion from tourism.
However, he noted that tourism receipts declined from $4.82 billion in 2024, with average visitor spending falling from about $3,743 to $3,320 in 2025.
Mr Agyeman said the decline showed the need for fresh investment in tourism products, marketing and infrastructure to increase visitor spending.
He also cited almost 1.8 million domestic tourism visits recorded in 2025 as evidence of the strong potential of the domestic tourism market.
He therefore urged stakeholders in tourism, hospitality, culture and the creative arts to unite and make a strong case for increased government investment.
“Ghana’s tourism, culture and creative arts story is too valuable, and too hard-won, to be left out of the very budget that is meant to secure its future,” he said.
