The Chief Executive Officer for the GTA, Maame Efua Houajetor, has called on the people and traditional leaders in Gonjaland in the Salaga municipality of the Savannah region, to consolidate the peace they are currently enjoying.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) CEO says this is the only way the area will attract investors and those from the diaspora to come and invest for development.
The CEO made the call in a speech read on her behalf by the Deputy CEO of GTA in charge of Marketing and Special Duties, Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, during a durbar of chiefs and people for the commencement of this year’s Emancipation Day and Panafest at the Salaga Slave Market.
Salaga was the epicenter of the Trans-Atlantic Salve Trade where slaves were sold to the Europeans to be transported to their various destinations.
The Municipality also have Slave Cemetery and Slave Wells and Baths that played a pivotal role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the sub-region.
Representatives from Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA), East Gonja Municipal Assembly, Kpembe Traditional Area and other stakeholders in the sector, were at the event.
There were poetry recitals and reenactment of the historical slave trade by the students of Salaga Senior High School and other drama.
Mr. Aggrey said “peace and unity are vital to development of every community”, adding, “the people of the East Gonja Municipality should maintain the peace they are currently enjoying because these values are essential for economic growth and development.”
“It is a privilege and honour to stand before you today and more importantly, in front of this sacred land (Salaga Slave Market) where PANAFEST and Trans-Atlantic slave Trade started. East Gonjaland is not only rich in tradition and culture but also holds a deep historically significant in the story of our ancestors,” he added.
He said “we at the Ghana Tourism Authority, are committed to promote rich culture landscape of the East Gonja Municipal Assembly to attract both local and international visitors to discover, learn and connect to the soul of Ghana in Savannah Region”.
Mr. Aggrey also highlighted the municipality’s potential for eco-tourism and traditional tourism, making special references to smock production at Daboya, the sacred sword of Ndewura Jakpa, the founder of Gonja Kingdom, which he described as a powerful symbol of leadership and unity and the confluence of the White and Black Volta, which also serves as natural wonders, and a potential hub for eco-tourism.
He expressed optimism about the potential of East Gonja’s cultural heritage to attract visitors from the diaspora, describing the people of Gonja as “wonderful, nice, and friendly.”
The Municipal Chief Executive, Kassim Rabiu Yazid, called for investments into the tourism sites in the area. He said this is the only way it will attract tourist into the area to boost revenue generation.
Mr. Yazid explained that the area can boast of numerous tourism sites that have not been developed and they all need attention from individuals and the government.
The Youth Chief for Kpembe Traditional Area, Chief Braimah Mohammed, who represented the Chief of Kpembe also appealed for more investments into the tourism sites in the area.
Salaga Slaves Market and Heritage Site more than just remembrance of past – Egyapa Mercer
By Timothy Antwi-Otoo|OnuaNews
