Ghana’s ambition of becoming one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations is being severely undermined by poor road infrastructure, the Royal Tourism Ambassador for the Central Region, Nana Owuraba Obenteng, has said.
According to the tourism advocate, many of the country’s most attractive tourist destinations remain difficult to access because of deplorable roads, discouraging both domestic and international visitors and limiting the sector’s contribution to national development.
Speaking during the royal visit of Ga Mantse, His Royal Majesty King Tackie TeikoTsuru II to the Central Region, Nana Owuraba Obenteng stressed that improving road infrastructure is critical to unlocking the country’s vast tourism potential.
He noted that although Ghana is blessed with numerous natural, cultural and historical attractions spread across all 16 regions, the poor state of roads leading to many of these sites continues to hinder tourism growth.
“Road infrastructure remains the biggest challenge facing tourism in Ghana. Tourists cannot visit beautiful destinations if the roads leading there are in a poor condition,” he stated.
The Royal Tourism Ambassador explained that bad roads not only discourage visitors but also increase transportation and operational costs for tour operators, making travel packages more expensive and less attractive to tourists.
He therefore called on the government to prioritise the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads leading to major tourist attractions across the country.
According to him, investing in road infrastructure will significantly improve accessibility to tourist destinations, increase visitor numbers, create employment opportunities and stimulate economic activities in host communities.
Nana Owuraba Obenteng, who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Crown Forest in the Gomoa Central District, said tourism has enormous potential to generate foreign exchange and support local economic development if the necessary infrastructure is provided.
He further appealed to traditional authorities, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), as well as the private sector, to collaborate with government in advocating for better roads to support the growth of the tourism industry.
The Royal Tourism Ambassador expressed optimism that Ghana can emerge as one of Africa’s premier tourism destinations if road infrastructure is improved and the country’s tourism assets are effectively marketed to the international community.
He emphasised that with coordinated efforts from government, traditional leaders and private investors, the tourism sector could become a major driver of sustainable economic growth while showcasing Ghana’s rich cultural heritage and natural attractions to the world.
Story by Joseph Cobbina
