Accra, Dec. 22, — Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has identified health tourism as a critical pillar for Ghana’s socio-economic transformation.
She stated that health tourism was central to economic diversification, strengthening of healthcare delivery, job creation and overall national development, positioning it as a strategic component of the country’s growth agenda.
Madam Gomashie made the remarks in Accra during a meeting with representatives of the Turkish Investment Center and other stakeholders.
The engagement formed part of a broader visit by the delegation, which expressed interest in expanding investments in Ghana across sectors including health, defence, agriculture, information technology and tourism-related infrastructure.
The Minister underscored the close nexus between health and tourism, explaining that while some international visitors travelled to Ghana for medical services, many Ghanaians also moved from various regions to major urban centres to access specialised healthcare, often encountering accommodation difficulties.
She stressed the urgent need for affordable lodging facilities to support patients, caregivers and medical tourists nationwide.
“To ensure that individuals receive the care they require, there must be affordable accommodation options that do not impose financial strain. The availability of modestly priced lodging facilities across the country will greatly enhance both domestic and international health tourism,” she said.
Madam Gomashie assured the delegation of government’s commitment to making litigation-free lands available to strengthen investor confidence and facilitate the efficient application of capital and expertise.
She reaffirmed the Ministry’s readiness to deepen discussions and receive comprehensive proposals on the intended investments.
As part of Ghana’s expectations, the Minister formally requested the development of a 5,000-capacity hotel in any region of the country, in addition to the establishment of a tourism and hospitality training school to serve Ghana and the wider sub-region.
Alhaji Abdul Nasiru-Deen, Ghana’s Ambassador to Turkey, who led the delegation, explained that the Turkish Investment Center was a private entity backed by the Government of Turkey to promote investments across Africa through public-private partnership frameworks.
He noted that although multiple investment opportunities had been channelled into other sectors, two proposals were prioritised for engagement due to their direct relevance to tourism.
Alhaji Nasiru-Deen further sought clarification on the Ministry’s implementation roadmap for the proposed initiatives and indicated that the delegation’s investment interests also extended to food production and media, should additional prospects emerge.
GHBUSS
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