The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture and MP for Sekondi, Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer has made his debut at the United Nations Tourism Executive Council’s 121st session which commenced Monday 10th June 2024 in Spain.
The Executive Council is the body of the United Nations responsible for the implementation of its decisions and recommendations of the Assembly on matters
regarding tourism.
The Hon. Minister who was welcomed by Ghana’s Ambassador to Spain, His Excellency Muhammad Adam, shared the need for Ghana to take inspiration from the Tourism space in Spain as she strives to make hers better. Spain has a rich historical culture and has invested heavily in tourism infrastructure. Still under construction, the Cathedral of Barcelona is amongst the key iconic edifices, drawing many tourists to Spain.
Keeping the Minister abreast of issues, the Ambassador iterated about illegal Ghanaian immigrants in Spain, and the Embassy’s efforts to assist the Spanish Government in controlling it. On that same line, Hon. Mercer also touched base briefly with Ousman Umar, a Ghanaian immigrant to Spain through Libya across the Sahara. Ousman was one of six people who survived the journey from his group; the remaining forty (40) died in the desert. His experience on the journey
has been captured in his memoir titled “North to Paradise”
The Minister plans to make a case for Ghana’s Tourism space as it has been a preferred destination in Africa over the years. The council’s meeting will take place from the 10th to the 11th of June 2024.
