A tourism consultant, Emmanuel Frimpong, has urged the Ghanaian government to prioritise funding and implementation of tourism, arts and culture projects in the 2027 Budget. This, he believes, will drive investment, create jobs and boost economic growth. Effective implementation of existing policy commitments will strengthen businesses and improve livelihoods, he added. Mr Frimpong, also the founder of the Africa Tourism Research Network, made these remarks in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
Mr Frimpong suggested that the 2027 Budget should prioritise tourism infrastructure, sustainable financing for the creative industry and regional tourism development. He called for increased and timely funding to rehabilitate heritage sites, develop community-based tourism, improve access roads to tourist attractions and complete abandoned or stalled projects. This, he believes, will help attract domestic and international investors to the sector.
The tourism consultant also urged the government to operationalise and sustain the Creative Arts Fund and Film Development Fund. This will provide musicians, filmmakers, event organisers and other creative entrepreneurs with predictable financing. Mr Frimpong emphasised that the creative industry needs predictable financing, not just periodic announcements. He believes this will help drive growth in the sector.
Mr Frimpong identified tourism education, skills development and professional training as priorities. He believes that infrastructure alone cannot make destinations competitive without a skilled workforce capable of delivering services that meet international standards. The government should focus on developing the skills of tourism professionals to improve the overall tourist experience.
On regional tourism, Mr Frimpong called for support for emerging destinations and local tourism enterprises across all 16 regions. This will help address the concentration of investment and visitor activities in a few established centres. Expanding investment beyond major tourism destinations will create opportunities for local businesses and enable more communities to benefit from the country’s tourism resources.
Mr Frimpong also called for stronger tourism data systems, including a Tourism Satellite Account. This will help measure the sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product, employment and national revenue. He believes that the Budget should include clear performance indicators, implementation timelines and accountability mechanisms to track government interventions and assess their impact.
The tourism consultant's key expectation is that the 2027 Budget should move Ghana’s tourism, arts and culture sector from policy commitments to measurable economic outcomes. He believes that collaboration among the government, private sector operators, local authorities and communities is essential to sustainable growth in the sector. The sector’s performance should be measured not only by visitor numbers but also by income retained in local communities, sustainable jobs created and the commercial viability of tourism businesses.
Key points
- The 2027 Budget should prioritise tourism infrastructure, sustainable financing for the creative industry and regional tourism development.
