Ghana’s tourism industry is in mourning following the sudden death of Prince Anthony Bart-Appiah, a pioneering figure credited with helping to reconnect the African diaspora to the continent.

Prince Anthony passed away in the early hours of Saturday, July 26, 2026, at his private residence in Spintex, Accra.

He was instrumental in the development and promotion of “The Year of Return,” the flagship tourism campaign that invited members of the African diaspora to return to Ghana in 2019.

The initiative is widely regarded as a turning point that boosted Ghana’s tourism numbers and strengthened cultural ties with Black communities across the world.

Beyond his work with the GTA, Prince Anthony was the Chief Exexutive Officer (CEO) of Bridgezone, an agency dedicated to showcasing Africa to Western audiences and fostering cultural and business connections between the continent and the diaspora.

Colleagues describe him as passionate, strategic, and committed to telling authentic African stories that drive tourism, investment, and pride.

Widely known as Prince Anthony, he served as a Board Member of the Ghana Tourism Authority from 2025 to date.

A former British Army officer and a royal of the Akwamu clan, he brought discipline, vision, and a deep sense of heritage to every role he held
Prince Anthony was also a proud father to two teenagers, whom he deeply cherished.

In a statement, the *Ghana Tourism Authority extended its heartfelt condolences to the grieving family, friends, and all sympathizers.

“The tourism industry has lost a pioneering figure and a vital link to the diasporan community,” the statement read.

The statement further added that “We pray for strength for the family during this difficult time.”

Tributes have since poured in from tourism stakeholders, creatives, and diasporan groups who say Prince Anthony’s legacy will continue to shape how the world sees and experiences Ghana.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

Dome Kwabenya Member of Parliament (MP), Elikplim Akurugu, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 toured ongoing road rehabilitation projects in the constituency to assess the progress of work.

The tour was undertaken with the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ga East, officials of the Ga East Municipal Assembly and engineers.

The team inspected ongoing works on the Grand Star Hotel-Nama Road at Musuku, the Ashongman Pure Water Road and road projects at Taifa.

Speaking after the inspection, Ms Akurugu said the visit was to monitor the projects after sod was cut a few months ago.

She said she was impressed with the progress made by the contractors, noting that some of the projects were about 80 per cent complete.

According to her, drainage and gutter construction had largely been completed, leaving the asphalt surfacing to be done.

“We are impressed with the work going on,” she said, while commending the contractors for the quality of work.

The MP, however, expressed concern over delays caused by utility service providers, particularly the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Limited.

She explained that the relocation of electricity poles, transformers and water pipelines had delayed some aspects of the road works.

Ms Akurugu said the Ga East Municipal Assembly would engage the service providers to help speed up the projects.

She thanked residents for their patience during the construction period and assured them that the temporary inconvenience would soon give way to better roads.

The MP said she would continue to lobby for more road projects to improve movement within the constituency.

The Roads Engineer of the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Daniel Ochere, said the inspection formed part of the assembly’s routine monitoring of the projects.

He said the contractors were working according to schedule and were expected to complete the projects within the 18-month contract period.

By: Jacob Aggrey