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Photos on this page
by Muguette Goufrani.
African
Americans Invest in Ghana
While
on our media tour, following the ATA World Congress
in Accra, Africa Travel Magazine's editors saw some
shining examples of African Investment in Ghana.
One was a new lakeside resort south of Kumase that
was ready for opening. Now here's an exciting new
story devoted to that new trend. Time Magazine's
feature article "Ghana's New Money" includes a
section on ATA member Mona Boyd of Land Tours,
Accra. Details
GRAND TOUR OF GHANA- A
GOLDEN EXPERIENCE!
By
Jerry W. Bird
 What
was my impression of Ghana on our first visit since
1999? Upon landing at Accra's Kotoka International
Airport my eyes were fixed like lasers on a banner
newspaper headline that shouted its bold, positive
message across the arrivals area - "Ghana is Safe."
What a confidence builder -- and nothing in two
exciting weeks of ATA 31st Congress activities,
colorful galas and an educational, fun-packed,
cross country tour gave us any reason to doubt the
authenticity of that challenging
statement.
 Our
2006 Grand Tour can easily be described as a "Photo
Safari," and over 10 new gallery pages are
available for online viewing from hundreds of
images captured by Muguette Goufrani, featuring
Cape Castles, Kente Weavers, Slave River, Bead
Making Art, Ceremonies and Festivities, Roadside
Commerce, Tour Sites, Ghana Fashions, Gala Events
and the ATA Trade Show. Combined with superb
photography by Robert Eilets and selections from
Sandy Dhuyvetter of TravelTalk Radio, we are able
to showcase Ghana like never before. Being non
profit, we seek no financial benefit from sharing
the sights and sounds of Ghana with a worldwide
audience - and with other approved media upon
request.
Roadside
Commerce
This
tour, with its focus on roadside commerce, creative
crafts and cottage industries, was an eye opener to
the amazing entrepreneurial spirit that is so
dominant in Ghana. It is reflected in the latest
book by Dave Fick entitled ""Africa:
Continent of Economic
Opportunities."
The experiences enroute during this week long, dawn
to dusk tour left a profound impression Starting
with the Lake Volta Region near the Togo border,
our journey took us to the provincial capital of
Ho; then to the Kumasi area, home of the Ashanti
Empire. Our agenda included Senchi Riverside
Resort, Liate Wote, Afadjato Mountain, Wli
Waterfalls, Tafi Monkey Sanctuary, Abenyinase Kente
Weavers, Cedi Beads, Oumasi, Shai Hills Game
Reserve, Bunsu Arboretum, the Bobiri Butterfly
Sanctuary, Ejisu Bease, Bonwire Village, home of
the Kente Weavers, Ntoso, the Adinkra Printing
Village, plus Ahwiaa, the Carving Village. We
visited the the Ghana Tourism Board's Kumasi office
and Crafts Center, plus a new luxury resort at Lake
Bosomtwe. One of the most meaningful sites was
NNonkonsuo, the Slave River Memorial Center.
Enroute to Kakum National Forest, with its famous
rope bridges, we stopped to watch a family
operation producing palm oil. The final leg of our
journey involved Elmina and Cape Coast
Castles.
The Volta
Region
Our
first night of the tour was spent at the Freedom
Hotel , a bright, attractive courtyard facility in
the city of Ho. Capital city of the Volta Region,
Ho has a population of over million and consists of
17 town and villages in the Ho District. We passed
through several of these communities in our tour.
Ho has three hospitals, including the Volta
Regional Hospital and numerous small clinics. There
are two internet cafes, a museum and many churches,
including a Catholic cathedral in the city center.
Ho has many restaurants, including a popular dining
establishment they call the White House. The main
language spoken in this area of Ghana is
Ewe.
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 Hon.
Jake Obetsebi- Lamptey presides at the ATA
31st World Congress
On
the right is a photo animation of the
Tourism Minister and delegates at this
popular annual event, hosted in 2006 by
the Republic of Ghana.
Official Media
Tour
Our tour itinerary courtesy of the Chief
Director, Ministry of Tourism, Ghana was
issued by the Tour Operators Union of
Ghana. The agenda was as follows, and
thanks to our experienced and
knowledgeable guide Mr. Yao Dzide, we were
able to visit almost all of the sites
outlined in this ambitious four day tour
schedule.
Day One. Our journey began when we
departed from the Palm Hotel in Accra,
driving along the Coastal Highways to Wli
Waterfalls, with further stops at the
Senchi Riverside Resort on the Volta
River, and at Liate Wote, where we viewed
Afadjato and the highest mountain in
Ghana. Next on the tour agenda was the
Fafi Atome monkey sanctuary. Our final
stop for the day was in the city of Ho,
capital of Volta Province. Our overnight
stay was at the Freedom Hotel.
Day Two: After visiting the
Regional Museum, we departed Ho for
Abenyinase to visit and interact with the
Kente weavers, with further stops at Cedi
Bead making facilities and shop, plus the
Shia Hills Game Reserve. Overnight was in
Accra.
Day
Three: An early departure from Accra
for Kumasi, with stops at the Bunsu
Arboretum, the Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary,
Ejisu Besease and Bonwire village, a kente
weaving center near Kumasi. Other
highlights were Nitonso, the Adinkra
printing village and Ahiwaiaas, the
carving village. Overnight was at the
Royal Basin Hotel in Kumasi.
Day Four. Driving through Kumasi,
after an enjoyable stop at the Cultural
Center and regional office of the Ghana
Tourist Board, we toured Ghana's second
largest city and traditional home of the
Ashanti Empire. The huge, sprawling city
market and the furniture making operation
on both sides of the main street were very
impressive.
Leaving
Kuumasi, we stopped at several new resorts
on Lake Bosomtwe, then continued to the
Memorial Gardens at Slave River
(Monkonsuo) . Further points of interest
were Kakum National Forest, a palm oil
making operation nearby, plus Elmina and
Cape Coast castles. We arrived for a late
dinner at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra.
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Kumasi
Having
spent some valuable time in and around Kumasi on
this and a previous trip, it was grand e experience
six weeks after our return from Ghana to meet it's
charming and highly capable le mayor,
Patricia
Applagyei
and her colleague David at the UN
World Urban Forum
in
Vancouver.
Our ATA Canada
Chapter had the privilege of touring them around
our own community. The professional, award winning
tour guide selected by Ghana Ministry of Tourism
and Diasporan Affairs was a fountain of
information. We jokingly referred to him as
yao.com, which in today's lingo is an apt
description of his ability to answer questions on
many topics, including those of a financial and
business nature.
yaodzide@yahoo.com
By the way, if
you've never heard of the "Joseph
Project,"
initiated by Ghana Tourism, with a major focus by
ATA on the African Diaspora, then be prepared.
There's an exciting new initiative on the way,
starting immediately.
Much more to
come-, including comments on the various sites and
attractions we visited.
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