Accra,- Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, has charged the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to help mobilize COVID-19 vaccines to support the vaccination drive in member countries.
He said as the umbrella body of tourism promotion globally, UNWTO was in a better position to convince developed nations to contribute appreciable quantities of vaccines to support in the global vaccination drive especially in less developed countries.
Dr. Awal made the call when he spoke at the 41st UNWTO World Tourism Day celebration held in Abidjan- Cote D’lvoire, on the theme: “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”.
Dr Awal noted that the cost and availability of vaccines were far above the means of most developing countries and therefore there was the need for the UNWTO to spearhead the effort in assisting developing countries to acquire more vaccines.
“COVID-19 has had devastating impact on livelihoods and jobs around the globe and it is time nations supported each other to minimize the effect of the pandemic and stimulate economic growth”.
He said government was committed to ensuring that 20 million Ghanaians were vaccinated against COVID-19 by close of this year, adding that aside that it was also ensuring the full enforcement of the observance of all COVID-19 protocols.
On the “Beyond the Return” initiative, the sector minister entreated Africans in the diaspora to visit Ghana and connect to their roots. “Ghana is one of the most peaceful countries in Africa, with a favourable investment climate and proactive leadership”.
Mr. Patrick Jerome Achi, Prime Minister of Cote D’lvoire, who opened the Celebration, said the pandemic had had a devastating effect on the global economy including Cote D’lvoire.
He said international tourist arrivals had reduced by over 65 percent, affecting the country’s revenue generation and jobs creation and called on the World to work together to ensure the revitalization of the tourism sector.
The Secretary General of the UNWTO, Mr Zurab Pololikashvili, said to achieve inclusiveness, there was the need for political and economic commitment and action to invest in people and places, saying everyone who had a stake in tourism should also have a say in the sector’s future.
He said the political commitment was evident in the large ministerial representation of Ministers at the celebration which he indicated was the highest on record for an official World Tourism Day celebration.
“This is very encouraging and confirms that the need for inclusive policy is a shared priority for our sector,” Mr Pololikashvili said.
Mr. Siandou Fofana, Ivorian Minister of Tourism and Leisure, stressed the need for African countries in particular to remove barriers that hindered travelling within the continent.
This, he noted, would not only enhance trade and investment on the continent but also lead to the growth of tourism and expressed appreciation to the UNWTO for choosing Cote D’lvoire to host this year’s celebration.
The event was attended by tourism Ministers and other key stakeholders in the tourism sector from countries such as The Gambia, Spain, Mali, Niger, Tanzania, Togo and DR. Congo.
Source: Ghana News Agency
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