Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ken Agyapong has described Minister of Tourism, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal as a myopic thinker.
His comment follows the Minister’s announcement that the tourism ministry intends to utilize funerals as a means to enhance domestic tourism in Ghana.
Dr Awal explained that funerals are events that occur regularly in every region, providing an opportunity for people to gather.
During these gatherings, local food and beverages can be offered to promote the tourism sector.
“When there are funerals. People gather places. What we want to do with the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) is that when there are funerals we would also find tourist attractions in those areas where the funerals occur. So that when they finish, we are going to serve a lot of Ghanaian dishes at the funerals. Ghanaian drinks. Sobolo and co,” Mr Awal told the media.
But in an interview with Bola Ray on Starr Chat on Starr FM Thursday, Ken Agyapong stated that this kind of vision by the Minister is not one that can place Ghana firmly on the international tourism map.
“We don’t need myopic thinkers; the way Ghana is we need men with big brains. He’s a myopic thinker. How can you say we will serve sobolo at funerals? and people were clapping, and I said Jesus Christ, what a country we live in.
“My tourism ideas you have no idea. Ghana is the centre of the world; the longitude 0 degrees and latitude O degrees are in Tema, and we are not making noise about it, we are not marketing Ghana. We could have built a hotel in the sea like in Dubai. We’ll name it Centre of the World Hotel. My design that I want to put on paper is that; the first five floors will be the shape of the African continent, the second five floors will be the shape of Asia, the third five floors will be the shape of Europe, the fourth five floors will be the shape of South America, the fifth five floors will be the shape of North America and the sixth floors will be the shape of Australia. So, imagine the of this hotel. Dare me and I’m going to do it as President of Ghana. Look, a black man is capable and that is what I want to inculcate in the youth.”
Source: Kasapaonline
