Minister-designate for Tourism and Creative Arts, Madam Catherine Afeku, has promised to settle amicably the current brouhaha surrounding the Elmina Castle when vetted and approved by Parliament to serve the nation.
According to her, she cannot do much since she has not yet been approved by Parliament, but promised to give the issue all the urgency it deserves for peace to prevail.
Speaking on some radio stations in Elmina in the Central Region last week Friday on the matter, Madam Afeku disclosed that she has spoken with the Omanhene of the area, Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, to give her government time to investigate the issue to enable them put things in order.
“It is unfortunate the issue had to force Nana Conduah to issue that drastic threat to lock up the tourist monument but I promise to ensure that things are put in place to ensure that things go back to normal,” she assured.
“We will consult the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) and we will also have to go and see the place for us to know the next line of action to take,” she added.
She thanked Nana Conduah for patiently heeding to her plea, saying Elmina will have its fair share soon.
Madam Afeku explained that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has in its manifesto that 5% of proceeds from any tourist monuments in any part of the country will be used in developing the community which the monument is situated, stating that Elmina will soon benefit from the castle.
She announced that her outfit will adopt an aggressive marketing strategy to sell the various tourist sites in the country for higher patronage.
“Straight from the airport, we will make tourists and visitors know where to find what in every part of the country to rake in more revenue for our sector” she further explained.
The minister-designate also observed that most roads leading to the various tourist attractions in the country were in bad shape, adding that her outfit will develop all the bad roads to make tourist attractions very attractive.
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