Travel influencers and digital content creators could play a major role in promoting lesser-known tourist attractions across Ghana and helping to diversify the country’s tourism destinations, according to Maame Ama Boa Effah, an Intern at the Corporate Affairs Department of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).

In an article titled “Off the Map: How Travel Influencers Can Put a Spotlight on Ghana’s Hidden Tourism Gems,” Maame Ama Boa Effah argued that Ghana’s tourism sector must look beyond its already popular attractions and use digital platforms to draw attention to hidden tourism sites across the country.

Her call comes amid renewed discussions about the development of major cultural and tourism facilities in Ghana.

She cited recent reports about planned transformations at the National Theatre in Accra, following bilateral engagements between the Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and stakeholders of the theatre.

According to her, the National Theatre remains one of Ghana’s major cultural and creative arts facilities, but similar attention and investment are needed at other important cultural centres across the country.

She specifically mentioned the Centre for National Culture in Cape Coast, describing it as an important event centre that hosts theatrical productions and regional programmes but has repeatedly faced calls from community stakeholders for infrastructural upgrades.

Maame Ama Boa Effah noted that the challenges confronting the Centre for National Culture are not isolated, arguing that several second-tier tourism destinations across Ghana continue to struggle with inadequate infrastructure and limited budgets.

She also raised concerns about the concentration of tourist visits around major urban centres.

Referring to Ghana’s 2025 tourism report, she observed that many of the country’s most visited tourist attractions were concentrated in Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast, raising questions about the visibility and development of tourism destinations in other regions.

She cited the Aburi Gardens as an example of a well-known destination while drawing attention to lesser-known attractions such as the Oboadaka Waterfalls, also located around the Aburi area.

“Everybody has heard of the Aburi Gardens, but what about the Oboadaka Waterfalls, which is also near Aburi?” she asked, highlighting the need to bring relatively overlooked attractions into the national tourism conversation.

Maame Ama Boa Effah believes travel influencers can help bridge the visibility gap by using social media to showcase destinations that are often absent from tourists’ itineraries.

She pointed to the growing influence of social media on consumer decisions, noting that people around the world spend significant amounts of time on their phones and that a substantial portion of social media users are influenced by what they encounter on their feeds.

She therefore urged the tourism sector to take lessons from modern businesses, particularly those in the hospitality industry, which increasingly use digital creators and influencers as brand ambassadors.

According to her, strategic partnerships between the Ghana Tourism Authority and selected travel influencers could help promote both established tourist attractions and less-travelled destinations.

She proposed that influencers could be selected from each of Ghana’s regions and, under the guidance of the respective regional offices of the Ghana Tourism Authority, travel to tourism sites within their regions.

The creators would document their experiences through photographs, videos and other forms of digital content, while promoting the attractions to their audiences.

She further suggested that the initiative could incorporate the “Experience Ghana, Share Ghana” hashtag to create a coordinated digital campaign around Ghana’s tourism offerings.

According to her, such an approach could create greater visibility for destinations outside the traditional tourism hotspots while generating interest among both domestic and international travellers.

She believes the possibilities for Ghana’s tourism industry are extensive if digital creators are effectively integrated into tourism promotion.

However, she cautioned that social media content should ultimately serve as an invitation for people to experience the destinations physically.

“As beautiful as these places look through the screen, no pixel can capture the true effervescence these sites have to offer in person,” she said.

Maame Ama Boa Effah is an Intern with the Corporate Affairs Department of the Ghana Tourism Authority.

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has partnered with AFRICA’s BRAIN BANK® Global to support a six-day international summit in Ghana, culminating in the groundbreaking ceremony for a proposed Historic Medical City in Ada.

The initiative seeks to position Ghana at the intersection of healthcare development, investment, tourism and medical tourism, while creating a platform for international stakeholders to explore opportunities within Africa’s healthcare ecosystem.

The 7th Annual Summit, Charity Ball and Medical City Groundbreaking is scheduled to take place from September 3 to 8, 2026, across Accra and Ada, under the theme: “Africa’s Greatest Wealth, Its People; Restoring Africa’s Health Capital.”

At the heart of the programme is the proposed Medical City, envisioned as an integrated ecosystem combining healthcare, medical education, research, innovation and economic development.

The project is expected to expand access to affordable, specialised and technology-driven healthcare while creating opportunities for investment, employment, professional training and international collaboration.

GTA Chief Executive Officer Maame Efua Houadjeto said the partnership demonstrates the potential of tourism to catalyse broader investment and national development.

She noted that the summit and Medical City groundbreaking provide an opportunity to welcome international participants to Ghana while showcasing the possibilities that emerge when tourism, healthcare, investment and development converge.

According to the organisers, the initiative will bring together government representatives, investors, healthcare professionals, corporate executives, development partners, philanthropists and members of the African Diaspora.

Rev. Dr. Pam Fomunung, Visionary, Chief Executive Officer and Group Chair of AFRICA’s BRAIN BANK® Global, described the GTA’s involvement as an important endorsement of Ghana’s ambitions in healthcare, tourism and investment.

She said the proposed Medical City is intended to extend beyond conventional healthcare infrastructure, with the potential to contribute to medical tourism, job creation, Diaspora engagement, knowledge transfer and economic growth.

The proposed development is expected to focus on specialised healthcare services, medical education and professional training, advanced diagnostic and surgical systems, digital healthcare, telemedicine, research and international medical collaboration.

The project could also create opportunities for local suppliers and service providers while supporting workforce development, Diaspora investment and knowledge transfer. Its wider ecosystem is expected to generate opportunities within hospitality, tourism and medical-tourism services.

Six-Day Programme

The programme begins with a homecoming welcome reception in Accra on September 3, followed by a Business-to-Business Market and community awards on September 4.

A symposium focused on Africa’s health capital, together with a red-carpet summit and awards gala, will take place on September 5.

Activities on September 6 will include a Billionaire Breakfast Brunch and beach retreat, while September 7 will feature the Medical City groundbreaking ceremony and a Greater Accra tour.

The programme concludes on September 8 with a cultural and heritage tour of Cape Coast and Elmina Castles.

Organisers are inviting businesses and investors across sectors including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, tourism, construction, finance, technology, logistics, real estate and infrastructure to participate in the initiative.

Members of the African Diaspora are also being encouraged to engage with the project by contributing expertise, investment, professional networks and philanthropic support, while reconnecting with Ghana’s cultural and historical heritage.

Describing the initiative as more than an event, Maame Efua Houadjeto said it represents a potential legacy venture capable of creating opportunities, attracting international attention, strengthening communities and contributing to Africa’s healthcare future.

The partnership comes at a time when Ghana is seeking to broaden its tourism offering beyond traditional leisure and cultural tourism by promoting business events, conferences, investment tourism and other forms of purpose-driven travel.

If successfully developed, the proposed Medical City could provide a significant test of how tourism, healthcare, investment and Diaspora capital can be brought together to support a long-term development agenda.

Beyond the groundbreaking ceremony, the project’s success will ultimately depend on the ability to translate the proposed vision into sustainable infrastructure, investment, healthcare services and measurable benefits for communities in Ghana and across Africa.

Chief Executive Officer of Eventguide Africa, Kelvin Kenneth, has been appointed Events and Business Manager of the Africa-Middle East Trade Investment Corporation, in a move expected to strengthen trade, investment and business collaboration between Africa and the Middle East.

In his new role, Kelvin Kenneth will be responsible for developing and coordinating strategic events and business platforms designed to connect investors, entrepreneurs, corporations and industry stakeholders across the two regions.

His responsibilities will include facilitating business networking events, investment forums, trade initiatives and strategic engagements aimed at identifying viable investment opportunities and creating sustainable partnerships between African and Middle Eastern businesses.

The Africa-Middle East Trade Investment Corporation operates across several sectors with significant investment potential, including gold and jewellery, shipping and yachts, automobiles, textiles, leather, construction, industrial machinery, real estate, tourism, media and entertainment, sports, healthcare and agriculture.

Through its trade and investment platforms, the corporation seeks to create opportunities for businesses and investors to explore new markets, establish strategic partnerships and develop projects capable of contributing to economic growth across both regions.

Kelvin Kenneth is expected to bring his experience in events management, business development, marketing and strategic networking to the position, with a particular focus on creating impactful platforms that connect businesses, investors and potential partners.

His appointment also underscores the increasing importance of the events industry as a catalyst for business development, investment promotion and international trade relations.

With Africa and the Middle East continuing to deepen economic and commercial ties, Kelvin Kenneth’s new position is expected to contribute to the creation of stronger business networks and investment opportunities between the two regions.

The appointment marks another significant milestone in his professional career and further positions him at the intersection of events, business development, investment and international trade.

Veteran Nigerian actress Patience Ozokwor has advised parents to avoid overprotecting their children from the difficulties of life, arguing that excessive pampering could prevent them from becoming responsible and independent adults.

Ozokwor explained that although it is natural for parents to want their children to enjoy better lives than they did, completely shielding them from hardship may ultimately do more harm than good.

According to the actress, parents should not deliberately make their children suffer, but they should allow them to experience some level of struggle and understand the process through which success is achieved.

“One way, when you say, ‘I don’t want my children to suffer what I suffered when I was growing up,’ you see, that’s the best way to destroy your children,” she said.

She quickly clarified her position, saying: “I’m not saying allow them to suffer. What I’m saying is allow them to struggle. Go through the process.”

Ozokwor used wealthy parents and their properties to explain her point. She imagined a situation where a parent owns numerous houses across different cities, including Enugu, Aba and Lagos, while the children grow up without knowing the effort and sacrifices that went into acquiring the properties.

“Can you imagine you have like 20 houses, you have in Enugu, you have in Aba, you have in Lagos. Your children will just be struggling over which one belongs to me,” she said.

She noted that children who grow up surrounded by wealth without understanding how it was created may take their parents’ achievements for granted.

“They don’t know how you struggle to get those things,” she added.

The actress therefore encouraged parents to preserve what they have built while teaching their children that they must also work to acquire their own wealth.

“But when you keep the things that you have and let them know that you go get yours, this is mine,” she stated.

Ozokwor also explained why some wealthy people choose to sell portions of their properties while they are still alive rather than leaving everything behind for their children.

She observed that some parents sell a significant part of their assets, keep only a few properties for their children, enjoy the fruits of their labour and give some of their wealth to people who genuinely need assistance.

“That’s why you see some rich people at the time they start selling their things while they’re still alive,” she said.

“Maybe give out, just keep a few for the children and sell out a lot. Enjoy themselves and then give out some to those who really needed it.”

According to her, this approach can prevent children from growing up with the belief that wealth should simply be available to them without effort.

Ozokwor stressed that children should have some understanding of life’s difficulties so they can appreciate what they have.

“If you don’t do it, your children will grow up to just begin to enjoy life as it should be like this,” she warned.

“Let your children know the pains of life. Not all the pains of life.”

She explained that children do not need to experience every hardship their parents went through. Rather, exposing them to manageable difficulties can help them develop gratitude and a better understanding of the realities of life.

“The little they know will tell them that when they look back, they will see some people going through harder ones, and they will thank God for where they are,” she said.

The veteran actress further cautioned that excessive pampering could prevent children from developing the qualities needed to succeed.

“But if you pamper them, they don’t come out to be anything,” she said.

She pointed to children from wealthy families who were properly trained by their parents, arguing that such children often become successful because they were taught discipline, responsibility and the value of hard work.

“If you see rich people who train their children well, their children come out better than them,” Ozokwor stated.

However, she reiterated that her message was not for parents to force their children to endure the same hardships they experienced.

“I don’t say that your children will go through all the pains you went through. But let them go through little pains,” she said.

Ozokwor concluded by stressing that children should understand that the things they enjoy have value and are not always easy to replace.

“Let them know that it is not easy to make,” she said, using the example of a child casually breaking an item and immediately moving on without understanding its value.

She suggested that without some exposure to difficulty and responsibility, children may grow up believing that damaged or lost possessions can simply be replaced without consequence.

Ghanaian musician Mzbel has expressed concern about the future of her colleague Barosky, cautioning that returning to Ghana without a stable source of income could worsen his situation.

Speaking on UTV’s United Showbiz on September 2, 2026, Mzbel said she was unhappy with the manner in which Barosky’s personal situation became public.

She explained that people who could have offered assistance should have been approached privately rather than allowing the matter to become widely discussed.

Mzbel said Barosky could face serious financial difficulties if he returns to Ghana without a job or family support.

“What is he coming to do in Ghana? Unless he has a family or he’s looking at a job that he’s coming to do, if not, he would be super homeless when he comes to Ghana,” she said.

She further appealed to Ghanaian officials and institutions abroad, particularly Ghanaian High Commissions, to consider helping the musician secure employment.

According to Mzbel, Barosky could potentially use his musical talent at official events while working, which could help him remain financially stable.

She also used the situation to caution musicians about the importance of planning for life after their active entertainment careers.

Mzbel noted that success in the music industry does not automatically guarantee financial security in later years, urging artistes to invest wisely while they are still earning.

“No matter how much money you make and no matter how far you go, if you don’t invest well, by the time you grow old, your life would be miserable,” she cautioned.

Mzbel advised Barosky to remain abroad for now and find a job that can provide him with financial stability rather than immediately returning to Ghana.

She, however, noted that Ghanaians living abroad who have no stable source of income should also consider returning home and rebuilding their careers.

“If you don’t have anything solid to do abroad, just go and come back,” she said.

Mzbel further suggested that Barosky might have had better opportunities to revive his music career in Ghana if he had not relocated abroad permanently.

She believes he could have collaborated with other Ghanaian artistes and potentially released successful songs that would have helped revive his career.