Ghana targets US$2 billion from one million tourists

Accra, Ghana 04/08 - Ghana expects to earn about US$2 billion from some one million tourists this year, an official of the Tourism and Diaspora Relations Ministry has said here.
Abeeku Dickson, a Special Assistant to the Minister said told journalists Thursday the country earned about US$836 million from the 428,533 tourists that visited Ghana in 2005, adding that the arrivals increased by 16% in 2006.
He said "The Joseph Project," which would climax between July and August would boost this year`s figures.
The Project seeks to reconcile and unite Africans who had lost contact with their roots back home to enable them contribute to Africa`s development.
The scheme`s major theme is "Re-uniting the African Family" with sub-themes such as "Honouring our African," "Pan-Africanism," "Emancipation, our Heritage our Strength."
Dickson said the number of forts and castles along the Ghanaian coastline showed that "most slaves passed through our shores."
"Like the Biblical Joseph, some have risen above their captivity and are shining examples of the best of human spirit," he said, adding that government planned to convert James Fort in Accra, which kept the first slaves and prisoners, into a home of "African Excellence Experience" for all Africans who triumphed over slavery.
According to him, the Ministry will form a Committee of Africans in the Homeland and in the Diaspora to select men and women as the "Josephs" of today.

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