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President Mahama welcomes London Mayor
President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday reaffirmed Ghana’s firm commitment to international trade and investment, outlining the wide-ranging reforms actively fostering economic transformation and better governance.
He was speaking during a courtesy call from the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan.
The President stated that these strategic reforms, begun just six months into his administration, are already showing tangible results.
He spoke about the renewed business confidence, the relative appreciation of the Cedi, and a decreasing inflation rate as important signs of economic stability and progress, especially after recent global challenges and inherited public debt burdens.
“We are striving to cultivate a new sense of thinking, a fresh approach to doing things, and to ensure that we effectively serve the people who elected us to lead,” President Mahama stated.
He elaborated on key government initiatives, including the ’24-Hour Economy’ policy, drawing inspiration from London, a city he described as “never sleeping.”
The President explained, “We’ve launched a 24-Hour Economy initiative to harness Ghana’s vibrant youthful population and address the challenges of rapid urbanisation by promoting continuous economic activity and opportunities.”
President Mahama further emphasised Ghana’s burgeoning digital landscape, indicating the country’s readiness to fully integrate into the global FinTech community with numerous digital services and innovative companies emerging across the country.
He also reiterated the government’s strong focus on agriculture and agribusiness as vital sectors for creating more opportunities, particularly for young people.
Discussions between the two leaders also delved into the deep historical and business ties connecting Accra and London.
President Mahama acknowledged Accra’s rapid growth and expressed Ghana’s keen interest in learning from London’s extensive expertise in urban planning, efficient transport systems, modern waste management solutions, and effective flood control strategies.
He said, “For a city like London, the efficiency of your transport system, even with perceived challenges, is truly remarkable,” the President noted, adding, “We aspire to develop similar reliable systems where punctuality is the norm for our citizens.”
In his remarks, Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan congratulated President Mahama on his re-election and commended the positive signals his administration is sending to the international community regarding Ghana’s potential.
He praised the invaluable contributions of Londoners of Ghanaian origin, who are enriching various sectors of the city’s economy and public life, from healthcare and transport to the arts.
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
