Report By: Ishmael Barfi
The Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) has taken a significant step in repositioning academic spaces as viable tourism assets by opening its first campus tourism office at the University of Ghana.
This move aims to coordinate and package tourism opportunities on campus, showcasing the university’s rich heritage and cultural attractions.
According to Kobby Mensah, CEO of GTDC, the initiative grew out of a need to properly organize and market the university’s tourism potential. “There is more than enough content here,” he said. “What we need is coordination, packaging, and a deliberate strategy.”
The decision was made after discussions with the university’s Public Affairs Directorate, the Dean of Students, and faculty members, revealing a shared interest in curating the campus experience more deliberately.
The campus tourism office will organize, market, and monetize the university’s assets, including its iconic tower, archaeology museum, Institute of African Studies museum, and Department of Performing Arts.
GTDC Opens Doors to University of Ghana’s Rich Heritage
Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Accra, including its night skyline and flight paths, explore the university’s tropical architectural landscape, and experience the vibrant cultural scene. A curated visit could span up to five hours, offering a distinctive urban dimension to campus tours.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described the initiative as a deliberate investment in Ghana’s intellectual capital, embedding tourism within academic life.
She argued that tourism must be integrated into various disciplines, from economics and environmental science to theatre, history, and entrepreneurship.
The Vice-Chancellor, Nana Aba Appiah Anfo, welcomed the partnership, saying it connects theoretical knowledge with living history and aligns with the university’s institutional identity. She emphasized that the university is a custodian of heritage, and its assets should not only be studied but experienced.
The campus tourism office is expected to generate incremental revenue through tour fees, events, merchandising, and hospitality services, creating part-time employment and entrepreneurial pathways for students.
It also positions Ghana as a hub for knowledge and cultural tourism, attracting higher-spending visitors and encouraging repeat travel. Student-led enterprises, tour guiding services, creative performances, and research would contribute to the local economy.
The initiative signals a pivot toward knowledge and cultural tourism, segments that typically attract higher-spending visitors and encourage repeat travel. By positioning a leading university as a destination, Ghana strengthens its brand not only as a heritage hub but as a centre of intellectual and cultural capital in West Africa.
If replicated across other tertiary institutions, the model could formalise an untapped niche within the tourism value chain. For Prof Mensah, the premise is straightforward: the infrastructure and heritage already exist. “The opportunity is here,” he said. “It is about organizing it properly and presenting it confidently to Ghana and the world.”
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
