The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA) has emphasized the importance of domestic tourism in fostering national identity and socio-economic growth, using a recent excursion by National Service personnel as a practical example.
As part of activities marking the completion of their 2024–2025 service year, the personnel were taken on a guided tour of the Shai Hills Resource Reserve and the Adomi Bridge, two of Ghana’s most iconic heritage and tourism sites.
According to Madam Delassie Mabel Awuku, Head of Public Relations at MoTCCA, the initiative was not only to celebrate the personnel’s year of service but also to expose them to Ghana’s natural and cultural wealth.
At the Shai Hills Resource Reserve, the group interacted with ostriches, zebras, antelopes, and monkeys while also exploring Mogo Hill, a sacred site historically used by the Shai people for initiation rites. Tour guides highlighted the dual importance of the reserve in protecting biodiversity and preserving indigenous traditions.
The personnel later visited the Adomi Bridge in the Eastern Region, where they learned about its engineering significance and role as a major infrastructural symbol while enjoying scenic views of the Volta River.
Madam Awuku stressed that such initiatives form part of MoTCCA’s broader domestic tourism agenda, designed to encourage Ghanaians to appreciate and patronize local sites. “Promoting tourism among young people builds cultural pride and strengthens the sense of national identity,” she said.
For many of the service personnel, the tour was a rare opportunity to connect classroom knowledge with real-life experiences. Madam Amen Gbeblewu, one of the participants, described the trip as an “eye-opener” that deepened her appreciation of Ghana’s heritage.
The excursion ended with photo sessions and reflections, but for MoTCCA, it was also a demonstration of how domestic tourism can be used as a tool for education, cultural continuity, and economic empowerment.
