Tourism minister calls for digital overhaul and better upkeep of Eastern Region attractions

Pinned summary · as of 15:29

Ghana's Tourism Minister, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has pressed for faster modernisation of the tourism industry through artificial intelligence and online systems, and for better care of existing attractions in the Eastern Region. She visited the Aburi Botanical Gardens, Aburi Craft Village and Papaye Gardens this week, calling for consistent standards in how sites are maintained and presented to visitors.

What we know

• The minister told site managers that attractions must be kept in good condition and tour guides must give visitors consistent, accurate accounts of their history. Adom Online and Graphic Online both reported her emphasis on maintenance standards and the need for guides to provide coherent historical narratives during her tour of Eastern Region sites.
• Minister Gomashie encouraged tourism facility managers to invest in upkeep, add new features and upgrade infrastructure to attract and retain visitors, both reports reported.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  The Aburi Botanical Gardens holds historical significance from the Biafran War and features trees planted by world leaders, Graphic Online reported; other reports have not confirmed these details.
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  MyJoyOnline reported that the Ghana Tourism Information System is a digital platform moving tourism operators from manual processes to online licensing, levy payments and verification; Adom Online and Graphic Online did not report on this system.
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  The Tourism Minister called for the sector to embrace artificial intelligence, online payment methods, social media engagement and digital reservation systems to strengthen how tourism services are marketed and delivered, according to MyJoyOnline. She made the call at the 2026 World Tourism Day celebration in Koforidua, which was themed around digital innovation and AI in tourism.
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  The minister disclosed that she has raised the poor condition of roads to tourist sites with the President, and that he has instructed the Roads Minister to make those routes a priority. A list of roads needing urgent work has been submitted to the Roads Ministry, according to Graphic Online.
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  The government's next phase of infrastructure development is expected to focus on improving access to tourism destinations, the minister said, Graphic Online reported.

Why it matters for Ghana

Tourism brings income and jobs to communities across the Eastern Region, from Koforidua to Aburi and beyond. Better roads, maintained attractions and reliable online booking systems make it easier for both Ghanaian and foreign visitors to reach sites and spend money locally. Young people and women in rural areas stand to gain from jobs in tourism services and digital skills. However, attractions can only compete for visitors if they are kept clean, offer consistent experiences and remain interesting, which requires ongoing investment from both government and private operators.