The Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Joseph Appiagyei, has made a passionate appeal to the government to extend the country's railway transportation system to the Upper East Region. This, he believes, will facilitate trade and boost tourism in the region. The extension of the railway network, together with the development of an inland port at Paga, a border community in the Kassena-Nankana West District, will ease transportation challenges and open the region to both domestic and international tourists.
Mr Appiagyei made the call at the 2026 Upper East Regional Tourism Awards and Promotion Night held in Bolgatanga. The event, which was held under the theme: "Celebrating Excellence Beyond Borders – The Black Star Experience," saw various individuals, hospitality institutions, and media outlets honoured for their outstanding contribution to the promotion of tourism in the region. The Regional Director emphasized that the region's strategic location as Ghana's gateway to the Sahel and its cultural and tourism assets required strategic infrastructure to unlock its full potential.
In addition to the railway extension, Mr Appiagyei also urged the government to expedite action on the Upper East Regional Airport project. An operational airport, he said, would significantly improve tourist traffic to the region. He stressed that improved transport infrastructure was essential to connecting the region's tourism destinations with other parts of the country and neighbouring countries. This, he believes, will help to boost tourism and economic growth in the region.
The Regional Director further urged stakeholders in the tourism industry to deliberately target the Sahel market, given the region's strategic location and its links with neighbouring countries. He appealed to upmarket hotels to employ French-speaking staff to provide comprehensive services to visitors from Francophone countries. This, he believes, will help to enhance the region's tourism experience and attract more visitors.
Mr Louis Bagarinyii Tindan, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Ghana Hotels Association, also called for stronger collaboration among industry stakeholders to address challenges confronting the hospitality sector. He cited multiple taxes and statutory charges, high operational costs, unreliable power supply, and high staff turnover among the challenges affecting hotels in the region. Addressing these challenges, he believes, will enable hotels and other tourism businesses to remain competitive and provide quality services to visitors.
In a speech read on her behalf, Mrs Maame Efua Houadjeto, the Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, said tourism was one of the few sectors that brought together a country's culture, history, creativity, hospitality, environment, and people to create experiences for visitors. She emphasized that Ghana's ambition should be to build a tourism industry that was world-class, competitive, sustainable, and inclusive, supported by innovation, technology, skills development, and quality service delivery.
The 2026 Regional Tourism Awards and Promotion Night was attended by various stakeholders in the tourism industry, including hotel owners, tour operators, and media personnel. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to network and discuss ways to promote tourism in the Upper East Region. Key_point: The Ghana Tourism Authority is pushing for the extension of the railway transportation system to the Upper East Region to boost trade and tourism.
Key points
- An operational airport and improved transport infrastructure are also crucial to unlocking the region's tourism potential.
- The region's strategic location and cultural assets make it an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists.
