HOW CAN A SKELETON BE BEAUTIFUL?

We not only have to explain what exactly development is, but the place we want to get to. It is the dream of the various African leaders to lead their people to the ‘promise land’ (Development). It also the vision of the United Nations (UN) that all African countries are working steadfastly towards the attainment of the sustainable development go7als, what we call “Vision 2030″.

As at 2015/2016, the sustainable development index ranks Benin, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique and Zambia as the top 5 who are making progress in achieving these goals. Amongs the top 20, I couldn’t locate Ghana, but she was rather amongs the 149 countries.This in my opinion is because their statistics finds Ghana doing little or nothing at all to be ranked among the top 20 countries. As an African, I find that we have underestimated the power of tourism in achieving our development goals. Our concerns have always thrown the spotlight to politics, finances, entertainment and agriculture.

We seem to have forgotten that the Portuguese took a tour through Africa and found it to be a fertile soil for the exploitation of abundant resources. Tourism was one of the means by which the Europeans colonized most of the African countries, Tourism is the reason why Christopher Columbus is regarded as the ‘legend’ who made a lifetime discovery. Tourism should thus, never be underestimated.

Ghana is ranked 120th in world tourism according to the travel and tourism competiveness index (TTCI), having 4.6 and 5.5 for safety, 3.0 in health and hygiene, 4.7 in human resource and labor market and 3.6 in ICT readiness. However, in Africa, Ghana is ranked 21st with 3.04%. The media in their researched editorials speak of the dying creative arts industry in Ghana. The number of tourists coming in to Ghana have reduced drastically in these recent times and that is because we have failed to advertise the beautiful tourist sites in our country.

The tourists do not only come and enjoy but they also bring their foreign currencies to patronize our local artifacts which boosts our trade and external relations.

“Tourism is the catalyst that causes a golden recognition of a nation”.

Amongs the top tourist attractions in Ghana, we have, Boti Falls, Lake Bosomtwi, Kumasi zoo, Pankrono pottery, Boaben-Francis monkey sanctuary, Kakum National Park, Boti waterfalls, Afram Plains, Shai Hills, Achimota Forest Reserve, Mole National Park, Larabanga Mosque, Paga crocodile pond, Wli falls etc. and so many mind blowing places.

If we underestimate tourism as a key factor for development, we are on designing a blueprint for a skeleton.

We might build good roads and schools and put up structures but those are just the skeletons of a beatiful lady but tourism is necessary to add flesh to the bones. Since the African countries are working tirelessly to achieve the SDG’s. Implementing tourism as one of the sustainable development goals will be a binding responsibility on our leaders and citizens.

‘Tourism should be a fabric that is woven in the ideologies of developmental policies before it is implemented.

With tourism as one of the. foundation for nation building and social development, West African countries will like Ghana will be propelled onto the path parallel to the SDG’s and positively arrive at a society with a high standard of living of the people.

I stand to be corrected.

#Change is Now
#K.A.D