African governments must prioritize tourism and travel development, says Royal Senchi Resort Executive Director Nana Kwame Yeboah-Afari.
Nana Kwame Yeboah-Afari, Executive Director of Royal Senchi Resort in Akosombo, Ghana, is calling on African governments to prioritize tourism and travel development, citing bottlenecks like visa issues and border crises.
In an interview with Olusegun Koiki, Yeboah-Afari shared his experiences and those of others, including billionaire Aliko Dangote, highlighting the challenges of traveling within Africa. “The fact remains that it is not pleasant…if you have money to throw around, you go through the borders easily, but for day-to-day people, it’s very difficult to navigate this.”
Yeboah-Afari emphasized the need for collaboration among African countries to promote tourism, citing the success of Southern African nations. “We can do cross-training, menus, bushmeat, and others just to keep the interest going…it is in our collective interest to put together our resources to be able to host large meetings.”
He also highlighted the importance of addressing challenges at land borders to make it easier for tourists to visit Ghana and other West African countries. Currently, 80% of the resort’s patrons are Africans, with 60% being Ghanaians and 40% from other African countries, mainly Nigeria.
The resort has partnered with travel and tour companies in Ghana and Nigeria to enhance patronage. Yeboah-Afari also emphasized the importance of eco-friendly practices, citing the resort’s use of solar energy, water treatment technology, and sustainable practices.
On security, Yeboah-Afari noted that the resort has an effective security management system in place to prevent illicit activities. The company also prioritizes corporate social responsibilities, collaborating with local schools and encouraging staff education.
However, Yeboah-Afari expressed concerns about the high cost of operations in Ghana, citing the importation of poultry and dairy products as a major challenge. He hopes for a change in government policies to support local businesses and promote tourism development.
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“African governments must prioritize tourism and travel development to boost economic growth and regional integration,” Yeboah-Afari stressed. “We need to work together to address the challenges facing our industry and promote our beautiful continent to the world.”
