The later part of the last two weeks and all of last week was dominated by the sad and horrific attacks on African migrants living in South Africa.
In renewed xenophobic attacks, South Africans burnt down mostly Nigerian owned shops and physically harmed others.
See Also: South Africa: One Ghanaian Has Been Shot In Xenophobic Attacks
This started a continental discussion on what it meant to be African – it also led to people calling on others to boycott South African owned businesses.
During this time, African governments were condemning the South African government and calling on them to do more to protect African migrants.
Even the Government of Ghana also released a statement condemning the attacks.
However, amidst all that and in what seems like bad timing, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Barbara Oteng Gyasi flew to South Africa with a delegation to sign a tourism agreement with South Africa.
See Also: Absa South Africa Loses Its Comment Section To Xenophobic Comments On Twitter
The poor timing casts a dark shadow on what is a great initiative for both countries.
In a Twitter thread, the ministry threw more light on what this new tourism agreement with South Africa entails…
The Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Barbara Oteng Gyasi led an official working delegation to South Africa to discuss and sign a cooperation agreement for the development of specific tourism projects in the country.The agreement which was signed between the- pic.twitter.com/6jbVCpcjFr
— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the GUMA group was signed on the 26th of August 2019. The cooperation agreement which was signed by the Hon. Minister for Ghana and Mr Robert Gumede, the Executive Chairman for the GMA Group and witnessed-
— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
by Mr.Kwadwo Antwi, CEO of Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) and Mr Blacky Komani, Dep CEO of Tourvest.The areas of cooperation as agreed on in the MOU include: Assist in growing the Regulatory Environment, Review of Institutional Capacity,-
— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
Assessment of Existing Facilities, Integrated Tourism Information and Communication, Commercialization of the Ghana Tourism Sector, Management System for Commercial Concessions, Investment Promotion Strategy, Wild Life Restocking, Development of Local, Regional and –
— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
and Inbound Traffic Strategies, Training, Establishment of Grading Council, Transportation and Logistics Plan, Development of Tourism Products and Direct Investment by GUMA in tourism infrastructure. Specifically, and in the short term, GUMA will work with Ghana towards- pic.twitter.com/uekgfwBpE4
— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
towards the development of products such as but not limited to Investment in the ongoing Marine Drive Beachfront, Ghana Centre of the World Project, A Cultural Village, “shipment of the Big 5 animals to safaris in
Ghana, development of the Slave Trade Route plus the Gold and-— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
Cocoa Routes, Packaging of traditional Festivals for international patronage and a Heroes Hall of Fame Museum. During the visit, the Minister had the opportunity to have a first-hand look at the operations of some parks including the Kruger National Park in Nelspruit, the Lesedi
— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
Cultural village, the Tourvest Eco-Lodges, Gorge lifts amongst others. There were high levels meetings also held
with Infrastructure Finance Partners, Messrs. IDC and PIC to discuss detailed arrangements for securing needed investments for the Marine Drive Tourism Investments-— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
for the Marine Drive Tourism Investments Project and Ghana
Centre of the World Project among others. The Minister also met her colleague, South Africa-— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
Minister of Tourism for bilateral discussions on how to promote cultural exchange and increase cooperation within the two countries where Tourism and the Arts are concerned. Members of the delegation included the CEO of GTDC Kwadwo Antwi, Akwasi Agyeman of GTA, and-
— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
Frederick Frimpong, Project Manager of the Marine Drive Project Office.GUMA through its various companies employs over 10,000 staff members globally. The group of companies has some of the top multinational companies as clients or partners and have made investments in-
— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
Information Communication Technology (ICT), Railways, Energy Generation, Water & Sanitation, Property & Retail Development, Construction & Engineering,
Mining, Business Consulting, Private Equity, Human Capital Management & Training, Transport-— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
& Products Logistics, Private-Public Partnerships, Project Structured Finance and Tourism. A team of highly placed executives and technical directors of the GUMA Group are expected in Ghana towards the end of September to initiate the process leading to the implementation of-
— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
the signed agreement and to commence action on the immediate priorities. As a slow of good faith, the Minister successfully negotiated with the-
— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
Executive Chairman of GUMA for the provision of a Drifters Safari Truck for Ghana to improve on our heritage tour
operations for the slave route. pic.twitter.com/kbmEvgF86e— Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (@MOTACGhana) September 8, 2019
However, others were of the opinion that the Ghanaian minister should have at least put this agreement on hold the wake of this renewed xenophobic attacks.
Tourism agreement for our people to go and die in South Africa
— Morgan (@morgangamel) September 8, 2019
We are not serious as a country. With all these nonsense going on in South Africa, we are still signing agreements with them.
— Fuseini Nawaru (@nawarufuseini) September 8, 2019
When other African countries are boycotting activities with SA we are here discussing whatever with them, how do you want other countries to feel about our actions? Ghana sell out big time!!!!
— I_AM_BILL_GATES 💙 (@Darlyntondaryl) September 8, 2019
So in the light of what happened there,you guys decided to be oblivious of that fact and is business as usual instead of showing solidarity with the rest of the African countries that took measures against these xenophobic attacks.
Not surprised though with this sellout gov.🤦♂️— Adua Raphael (@Ad777777ua) September 8, 2019
🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍
— SM⭕KEY (@GHsmokey) September 8, 2019
Should it have been business as usual for the tourism ministry?
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