The Honorable Minister of Aviation for Ghana Hon.Cecilia Abena Dapaah will be Opening the 4th Accra Weizo event on the 22nd of June with a Paper titled ‘Harnessing the Opportunities in Aviation value chain in West Africa.’ West Africa is home to 15 countries of over 350 million people but Tourism and Travel is not the strong Suite of the Economic interaction in the region. The Region receives among the lowest Tourism figures per Capita in Africa. With a huge Population and over 40 Airports Aviation is dominated by Companies from outside the Region
The ECOWAS region as it is known despite a protocol of free movement has not grown Intra regional Tourism and Travel. Accra Weizo is one of the events geared towards getting West Africans to Cooperate amongst themselves. Accra Weizo is a Travel event now in its 4th edition aimed at creating a seamless travel environment in West Africa. It brings together Travel professionals in West Africa. The first day will be the seminar on Aviation and the Second day will be dedicated to ‘Travel, Tourism and the Internet’ session to grow Travel Business and destination. It will be taking place at ada Ekesi Hall at LaPalm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra Ghana on the 22nd & 23rd of June. The topics to be discussed on the first session of the event which is dedicated solely to Aviation in West Africa include: “Interlining in West Africa, a possibility or a Mirage?” ” Integrating West African Airport System”. “Standardizing Aviation Laws in West Africa for Regional Growth”. “Why West African Airlines fail easily and the future”.
Confirmed panellists for that session are Capt Ado Sanusi –Managing Director of Nigeria’s oldest Airline Aero owners of the major MRO in the region, Chike Ogeah the Vice Chairman SAHCOL a leading Nigerian Owned Aviation handling and Logistics company, Alex Nwuba, CEO of Ghana based Smile Aviation and former CEO of Nigerian based Associated Airlines, Richard Kyereh from Africa World Airlines the leading Airline in Ghana. Other Airlines Chief Executives are expected to join the panel. Because of the need to Organise the Tourism products available in the region to encourage Intra regional Tourism Atqnews will be hosting an Award for the Top100 Hotels in West Africa.
There will also be a Hospitality panel made up of Top Hotel Managers in West Africa to discuss “The Adapting of International Hotel Standards to the African Environment” Already confirmed Panellists which is a mixture of African and non African Hotel Managers include Marigold Vivian Mingle of Ridge Royal Resort at Cape Coast. She was a former General manager of La Palm Royal beach Hotel in Accra. Pastor Emmanauel Geadda-Asando, Vice President -Ghana Progressive Hotels Association, Sajid Khan. General Manager, Tang Palace Hotel Ghana he is one of the most experienced Hotel.managers in West Africa having managed Fiesta Royal Accra,Golden Tulip Lagos, Golden Tulip Hotel Accra Ghana among others. Malah Saleh is the CEO of Djembe Hotels and Balafon Hotels in the Gambia. Currently he is one of the biggest Hotel proprietors in West Africa. Topics lined up for day 2 of the event on the 23rd include ‘How effective are travel bloggers, writers and influencers in promoting travel destinations in West Africa’ to be discussed by the following confirmed panellists Gabe Onah, Chairman Carnival Calabar Commission,
Steve Ayorinde ,Lagos state commissioner of Tourism, Mr Lehlohonolo Pitso, Regional Manager, West Africa for South African Tourism SAT, Akwasi Agyeman, ag.CEO Ghana Tourism Authority, Ebele Enemchukwu, Fmr Mrs Tourism United Nations, Ghana’s Tourism promoter and media Mogul CEO of Kaya Tours Abeku Santana, Nigerian CNN journalist of the year Award winner and leading Travel Writer Obinna Emelike of Business Day,One of Ghana’s top Blogger Ameyaw Debrah of Ameyaw Tv, The Instagram sensation, Nigerian star Tour Operator Chiamaka Obuekwe, MD Social Prefect Tours, and Ghanaian based Communicator Chris Koney. There will be a special presentation on the Hottest destination for West Africans-Dubai by the Regional rep for Dubai Tourism Stella Obinwa of DTCM, on 22nd of June. Lagos State which is the Event and entertainment Capital of Africa will be showcasing its wealth of Attractions on Saturday the 23rd at the EKAABO day. The Ghana Tourism Authority will showcase its flagship programme at Ghana Day with See Ghana, Wear Ghana, Eat Ghana.
According to Mr. Ikechi Uko CEO of AKWAABA African Travel Market and Organiser of Accra Weizo, “Our Events are geared towards capacity building and networking. After the success of Banjul Bantaba, we expect Ghana to Surpass the Gambia Experience”, There will be a 3 day fam Trip to the Volta region for Tour Operators to be hosted by Ghana Tourism Authority.
